James Faulkner

Having started as a left-arm chinaman bowler, James Faulkner has come a long way in his cricketing journey. Faulkner developed a reputation as a finisher for Australia in the shorter formats of the game. An all rounder by profession, Faulkner became a quick left-arm bowler as he grew up and was nurtured in the Australian Cricket Academy’s development squad. 

He earned a rookie contract with Tasmania for the 2007/08 season, and the very next year, represented Australia in the 2008 Under-19 World Cup.

Faulkner had a breakout domestic season in 2010, where he really showcased his all-round abilities, scoring 300 runs, and scalping 36 wickets at an average of 17.72. 

The player finally received his maiden international callup in a T20I game against India in 2012. Opportunities were limited and Faulkner couldn’t cement his place in the squad for the 2012 ICC T20I World Cup.

He went back to the domestic circuit, performed heavily with both bat and ball, and reinforced himself into the national setup.

Faulkner made his much awaited ODI debut in 2013 against West Indies at Perth,  impressing everyone with his bowling, scalping 2 for 14 as Aussies won the match convincingly.

Australian Test side toured England for the Ashes in 2013, and Faulkner was called upon for the fifth and final Test match. The left-arm all-rounder responded to his inclusion with 6 wickets in the game. Interestingly it remains Faulkner’s only Test till date. 

The dynamic player further proved his credentials in the ODI series against India in 2013. In the third ODI of the series, Faulkner smashed India’s Ishant Sharma for 30 runs in an over, to snatch the victory from the jaws of defeat. He scored 64 off just 29 balls to prove his credential as a world class all-rounder. 

The allrounder’s ability to play well under pressure was witnessed in the series decider game at Bangalore. Chasing India’s mammoth total of 384, he scored the fastest ODI century by an Australian (at that time) to almost take the game away from the Indian side.

Faulkner continued to improve as a player and was thus rewarded with a place in the Australian squad for the 2015 ICC World Cup. He saved his best performance for the finals against New Zealand, bagging 3 for 36 to win the player of the match award as the Aussies won their fifth World title.

A year later, Faulkner took his first hat-trick in an ODI match against Sri Lanka and in the process he became the sixth Australian player to achieve this feat. 

Over the years, he has played quite a lot of T20 franchise cricket across the globe. He represented Gujarat Lions, Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, and has also played for Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League.

A genuine seam bowling all-rounder, Faulkner has been a great integral part of the Australian limited overs team. His ability to change the course of the game is second to none. Faulkner’s ability to play well under pressure situations has garnered him praise from all around the world.

(As of May 2021)