Australian all-rounder James Faulkner is likely to miss the start of the cricket World Cup as he is suffering from a moderate grade abdominal muscle strain, Cricket Australia said on Tuesday. The 24-year-old, who suffered the injury while bowling in Sunday's final of the ODI tri-Series against England at the WACA Ground in Perth, underwent scans on his injured right side in Melbourne late on Monday.
"Scans on James Faulkner's injured side have confirmed a moderate grade abdominal muscle strain which is consistent with a 'typical' fast-bowing side strain injury," Cricket Australia Physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said. "He will receive intensive treatment for the next two weeks before we can determine when he can return to batting and bowling."
Faulkner will travel with Australia's ICC Cricket World Cup squad to Adelaide on Friday to continue his treatment with team medical staff. Australia's James Faulkner may be in doubt to miss the start of the cricket World Cup due an abdominal side strain but his state coach Dan Marsh believes that the all-rounder can be picked in the XI purely as a batsman.
Son of national selector Rod Marsh, Dan believes that the Tasmanian is more than talented to demand a place in Australia's first-choice one-day line-up even if a side strain restricts him from bowling. "I think it is something that he's always been picked as, an all-rounder, for Australia but there is no doubt that he's got the talent to do it," the Tasmania coach said.
"It just depends on the role they want him to play. I think he's a good enough player to bat higher up the order if needed. I know he's done it before at No.6 for Australia," he added. In just 38 ODIs, Faulkner has emerged as a strong all-round force, averaging over 48 with the willow and 32.36 with the ball. "He's always had that supreme confidence in his ability," Marsh said.
"The first time I played a game with him I was his captain and he was telling me what field he would need to bowl to straight away," he added. Though Faulkner's injury is not too serious with Australian physiotherapist Alex Kountouris saying that the extent of the strain will only be known in two weeks time but the left-arm pacer is expected to take field after the hosts' opening game against England.
"I think the one thing with side strains is it isn't just a given that they're going to be able to bat properly either. It could be a while until he can bat, too," he said.
‘DON'T THINK ENG CAN BEAT US’
Sydney: Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood feels England don't know how to beat Australia in Australia and would be scratching their head ahead of their cricket World Cup opener on February 14. Hazlewood snapped a couple of wickets last Sunday to help Australia thrash England in the tri-series final at Perth. It was Australia's fourth successive win over their arch-rival and eighth in their past nine encounters in 16 months.
"I don't think they quite know how to beat us yet, especially in Australia," Hazlewood was quoted as saying in the Sydney Morning Herald. "We've obviously proved that over the last few years, especially this series again, beating them a few times.
‘AUS CAPTAIN SECOND MOST IMP’
Melbourne: Putting to rest speculation about Michael Clarke's dipping popularity within the national cricket team, coach Darren lehmann said that Australian captain occupies the second-most important position after the Prime Minister and everyone wants him to be fit and raring to go. "He's captain of Australia, the second most important position behind the Prime Minister as such, we need our captain playing well," lehmann said.
"When he played well he got a hundred in Adelaide and we won that Test match. We took a risk with that with his hamstring and the history of it but that was for good reason for obvious reasons as everyone knows," he told the Adelaide radio station FiveAA. "We all get on, that's the great thing. Media can say what they like. Media will speculate and people are going to have their views. From our point of view we want our captain fit, which is great leading into the most important tournament for four years.