Faulkner given time to recover
CRICKET Australia has refused to put a fitness deadline on James Faulkner, even though the World Cup will be underway before medical staff can even fully assess the extent of his right side strain.
Although CA clarified that Michael Clarke’s infamous February 21 deadline applied to “chronic injuries” only, that doesn’t change the fact that national selector Rod Marsh made it clear when he announced the 15-man squad that he wanted a settled lineup through the tournament.
“What we don’t want is talk about people’s fitness,” said Marsh back on January 11. “We want to be settled.” However, rules are made to be broken, and it appears allrounder Faulkner’s rare finishing ability with the bat means selectors are willing to perform a backflip of sorts and give him as much time as possible.
Star NSW all-rounder Moises Henriques and Victorian big-hitter Cameron White have been pencilled in as possible replacements, but there’s a general feeling that there should be no hurry to cut Faulkner.
Henriques or White may struggle to make Australia’s first-choice XI anyway, so there’s a reluctance to call them in if they’re unlikely to play and Faulkner is a chance of recovering.
Besides, Faulkner is ranked the No.21 batsman in the world in ODIs — above David Warner and Steve Smith — so it’s not inconceivable that he could ease his way back as a batter who doesn’t bowl.
Side strain injuries invariably carry a four-to-six week lay-off period, so the earliest Faulkner may return could be Australia’s third group game against New Zealand in Auckland.
Australian physiotherapist Alex Kountouris says he won’t even know when Faulkner might be able to return to batting and bowling until after two weeks of intense treatment.
That will come after Australia’s World Cup campaign has kicked off on February 14.
“Scans on James Faulkner’s injured side have confirmed a moderate grade abdominal muscle strain that is consistent with a ‘typical’ fast-bowling side strain injury,” said Kountouris.
In positive news, fellow allrounder Shane Watson is set to return from right hamstring tightness in Australia’s warmup match against India next week.
Australia can play as many squad members it wants in the unofficial fixture at Adelaide Oval. If Faulkner, Clarke or anyone else is to be ruled out of Australia’s squad at any point, ICC officials will have to authorise the decision — and the replacement.