James Faulkner does not want to remain a "one-Test wonder"
Currently one of the best finishers in the international circuit, 25-year old James Faulkner is easily one of the most sought after all-rounders, be it in the Indian Premier League, Big Bash or Australia's limited-over’s team. However, he's desperate to remove the "one-Test wonder" tag off him.
The Tasmania-born cricketer played his only Test for the international side during the fifth Test of the 2013 Ashes series at the Oval. "I'm a 'one-Test wonder' at the moment. I want to play Test cricket”, Faulkner told cricket.com.au.
In the single test he played, he made 45 runs and picked 6 wickets. Previously representing Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, Faulkner was bought by the Gujarat Lions this year during the player auctions for Rs. 5.5 crores.
Faulkner has enough accomplishments to prove his prowess in the limited-overs format. He clinched the Man of the Match award during the ICC 2015 World Cup finals for his spell of 3/39 against New Zealand.
He was also the leading Australian wicket-taker at the T20 World Cup earlier this year, and his fabulous 5/27 against Pakistan made him the first Australian to get a five-wicket haul in a T20 international.
However, the main issue stopping him from an inclusion in Australian test side is his jam-packed domestic schedule. He has had little chances to play first-class cricket back home due to constant tours in the summer.
However, the Aussie was given a chance in the Australia A program and played in the England county championship with Lancashire last year. Playing seven matches in Division Two, he took 23 wickets and made 310 runs. Adding to this, he also posted 121, his maiden first-class century against Surrey in his first ever innings for Lancashire.
"It was a massive learning experience," Faulkner said of his days with the county."We had everything where I was playing at Lancashire; there was reverse swing, there was spin, and all the other grounds there was a lot of swing and seam."
While Faulkner has his hands full with the IPL, Sri Lanka tour and the South Africa tour, he seems to know what can make him put his Baggy Green back on.
"I just need to get some big scores and get wickets. That's the only way you can force your way back in," he said. "Whether that's batting five, six, seven, eight, wherever it is I need to get runs. And bowling, it's always been stock standard with me, ever since I started.
“If I was to do one or the other it's about getting more four-day runs, so I'll have to start playing some four-day cricket," he added.