Published: Mar 28, 2014, 08:58 AM (IST)
Edited: Mar 28, 2014, 09:06 AM (IST)
By Gaurav Joshi
Dhaka: Mar 28, 2014
James Faulkner’s return will boost Australia ahead of their crucial ICC World T20 2014 encounter against the West Indies on Friday. But the inclusion of fitness has also created a headache with the team vice captain, Brad Haddin keeping the selection cards close to his chest.
Faulkner has become the public enemy No 1 in the West Indies camp after stating the he does “not ‘particularly’ like the West Indian team”. This is not the first time Faulkner has gone after the West Indies. In the One-Day International (ODI) series in Australia last year, he was fined 10% of his match fee after giving Chris Gayle a verbal spray after dismissing him early in his innings.
Haddin is also another player who has publicly commented on Gayle’s failures in the Big Bash League (BBL) last year. The wicketkeeper-batsmen was dismissed by Gayle but stated afterwards, “disappointing to get out then, I was feeling pretty good but at least the (Sydney) Thunder fans have seen Chris Gayle do something for his money”.
Despite all the verbal backlashes, the concern for Australia is the last three outings against the West Indies is that their bowlers have conceded over 190 runs on each occasion.
Two bowlers who have played in all those matches are Mitchell Starc and Shane Watson, who are certainties in the line-up. But, who will Faulkner replace?
Faulkner would be a suitable replacement for Nathan Coulter-Nile, as both are considered hard hitting bowling all-rounders. But if Coulter-Nile is replaced, it would mean that Australia’s pace bowling attack will consist of three left arm pacers.
With George Bailey preferring to choose bowlers that take the ball away from the right handers, Australia would gamble on the three. Also Faulkner in general bowls plenty of off-cutters, so he provides that variety and making him unique.
Haddin further went on to say, “Fast bowling is our strength and we also discovered that there is something in the wicket at the start so our fast bowlers can get something out of it.”
Given Doug Bollinger’s hit the deck approach and Starc’s swing at the start, the three left arm pacer strategy is a strong possibility.
One other dilemma Australia has is whether to replace the veteran spinner Brad Hogg with rookie leggie, James Muirhead. It would be wise choices given six of the seven West Indian batsmen are right-handed and the trouble they had against the Indian leg spinner, Amit Mishra.
Haddin at the press conference was quick to defend Hogg stating “Of course that will be good debate the selectors will have but Hogg also has a very good wrong ’un’ and he has been lethal against right handers.”
Haddin’s answer suggests Australia are likely to stick with the veteran campaigner meaning Coulter-Nile will be the unlucky man to miss out so that Faulkner can play.
ICC World T20 2014 schedule: Match time table with venue details
ICC World T20 2014 Points Table and Team Standings
(Gaurav Joshi is an Indian-born Australian who played with Michael Clarke in his junior days. He coaches and reports for a Sydney radio station. Over the years he has freelanced for Australia Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and is a regular on ABC cricket show Cow Corner. He is the author of the book “Teen Thunder Down Under” – The inside story of India’s 2012 U19 World Cup Triumph)
