12 Interesting facts about James Faulkner

Australia has never had a dearth of quality all-rounders. It has always boasted off match-winning players who could swing the match in their team’s favor with their all-round performances. The most prominent name to emerge in the newer lot of all-rounders is James Faulkner. A left-arm pacer and a right-handed batsman, Faulkner, is a handy cricketer particularly, in the shorter formats. His variety of slower ones enables him to bowl effectively in the death overs whereas his natural ability to smash the ball over the fence with regularity makes his a very useful lower middle- order batsman. Such qualities have earned him an exclusive nickname in the dressing room ‘finisher.’

1.Birth:

James Peter Faulkner was born on April 29, 1990, in the riverside city of Launceston in Tasmania.

2. Family:

James Faulkner is the son of Peter Faulkner, who also played first-class cricket for Tasmania.

3. An aspiring leg-spinner:

As a kid, Faulkner started as an aspiring leg-spin bowler. He would bowl in the backyard with his father. Later, he switched to seam bowling as a teenager.

4. Early cricketing career:

Faulkner began his cricket at Launceston. Later, he captained the Tasmania Under-17s while already being a part of the state’s U-19s and the Tasmania Second XI.

5. Fetches a rookie contract:

In 2007/08, Faulkner earned a rookie contract with the state side. At the same time, he was also was a part of the Australia Cricket Academy. He was one of the only three players selected that year.

4. Under-19 cricket:

Falkner was a part of the Australia U-19 team for the 2008 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

5. International debut:

On 1 February 2012, Faulkner made his T20I debut for Australia against India at Sydney. He bowled two overs at the cost of 18 runs. Exactly a year after, the all-rounder earned his ODI cap against West Indies at Perth in 2013.

6. The game changer:

Faulkner won three consecutive Ricky Ponting Medals as Tasmania’s outstanding player in the First-Class arena.

7. Continues to grab headlines:

Faulkner was the man of the match in the 2012–13 Sheffield Shield final, helping Tasmania secure its third championship title.

8. Only Test:

Faulkner hasn’t been able to seal his place in the Test team. He made an impressive debut at the Oval against England in 2013 Ashes. He took 4/51 in the 1st innings and 2/47 in the 2nd innings. Unfortunately, despite having a great start, he wasn’t able to hold his place in the team in the future and has since not played a single Test.

9. The blistering knock:

Faulkner hit his maiden ODI century off just 57 balls against India on 2 November 2013 in Bengaluru. His knock entered the record books as the second fastest century by any Australian batsman (after Glenn Maxwell).

10. Man of the Match in the Big Final:

In the 2015 Cricket World Cup Final against New Zealand, Faulkner took 3/36 in his 9 over spell to help Australia fold the opposition for just 183 runs. Australia eventually chased the target to win the title with Faulkner being awarded the Man of the Match award.

11. Most popular heist:

On January 17, 2014, Faulkner pulled off a stunning heist, helping Australia clinch a heart-stopping one-wicket victory against England at the Gabba with three balls to spare. He along with the last man Clint McKay had brought down the match to 25 runs off the last 7 deliveries. Faulkner remained cool and knocked off those runs with ease. He remained unbeaten on 69, which included five sixes, two of them in the penultimate over off Ben Stokes.

12. Productive debut season in IPL: 

His growing popularity as a limited overs cricketer earned him a $400,000 contract with the Rajasthan Royals in the 2013 IPL auctions. He did a wonderful job and ended up as the 2nd highest wicket-taker with 28 wickets. He currently with Rajkot franchise Gujarat Lions.