FAULKNER OUT OF
Sidelined Tasmanian ace looks to re-boot career in India
MELBOURNE
“I think if you ask any player when you get left out, it’s not great fun. So you have to rely on your friends and family and your team mates as well.
“I didn’t get too much feedback (from selectors), to be honest.
“They said the pace has dropped down a little bit, maybe.
“But I bowl a lot of variations, so it’s a tough one.”
From being surplus to requirements for Australia’s winless Champions Trophy campaign in England, Faulkner is suddenly indispensable in India following injuries to pacemen Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and James Pattinson.
The left-armer joins Pat Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Kane Richardson in a pace attack against India’s formidable batting lineup.
Faulkner used his time off wisely, putting in a ‘pre-season’ to nurse a troublesome knee back to health.
“I have been battling, to be honest, for probably the last 18 months, so it’s been nice to be home in Tassie (Tasmania) with my team mates there and hit the gym hard,” he said.
“My training definitely changed. I’ve spent a lot of time on the bike, I haven’t spent any time running other than fielding and net sessions when I’m bowling.”
Faulkner is no stranger to conditions on the subcontinent, having played for four different teams in the Indian Premier League and in the 2013 limited overs tour of India when he announced himself with 230 runs and seven wickets.
“At the end of the day it is up to you to bounce back and I am excited to be back in the group,” said the Tasmanian.
“I want to do as well as I can and play my part in these conditions, which are obviously different from back in Australia.”
Australia meet a Board President’s XI in a warm-up match yesterday ahead of the first ODI in Chennai on Sunday. Reuters