AUSTRALIA may have lost their iceman closer for the World Cup, as a James Faulkner injury drama took the gloss off a momentum-harnessing one-day final triumph over England at the WACA.
The injury will be a setback for Australia with their opening match of the World Cup just two weeks away. The 24-year-old had earlier starred with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 50 from only 24 balls, hitting a six off the final ball of the innings to bring up his half-century and taking the home side to a healthy 278 for eight.
If Faulkner’s injury is as serious as it seemed it is a blow for the young allrounder but opens a place in the World Cup squad. There had been talk that if Michael Clarke did not meet the injury deadline selectors were keen to get Shaun Marsh into the line-up. The elder brother of Mitch, who contributed 70 to a 141 run partnership with Maxwell yesterday, looked in good form when given a chance in the Tests and continued that with a positive performance when brought into the ODI squad for the game in Hobart.
Maxwell said the whole side was upset about Faulkner’s plight.
“I think he’s pretty down at the moment,” Maxwell said. “I think with such an amazing thing just coming up for us, the home World Cup and I think … for any of us being ruled out so late with an injury would hurt a lot of people.
“I know a few of us were out there hurting for him. He’s a super cricketer and he’s a vital cog in this Australian outfit.’’
England captain Eoin Morgan denied Johnson had re-opened old wounds after the match.
“Absolutely not,” Morgan said. “I don’t think he swung it … we must’ve put ourselves under pressure. It could have been anyone bowling. We had a bad day and that’s the only way to describe it.”
James Faulkner Injury scare before 2015 ICC World Cup
