Australia's Faulkner likely to return against Afghanistan

Perth, March 2 (IANS) Australia all-rounder James Faulkner is likely to make a return to cricket in their World Cup game against Afghanistan on Wednesday at the WACA after recovering from a side-strain injury.

The 24-year-old sustained his injury at the same venue a month ago in the final of the One-Day International (ODI) tri-Series against England.

“I bowled a couple of overs (last week and was) pretty close, the difference is the intensity of an ODI. I will have a solid hit out today and hopefully I recover well and be out here (at the WACA) on Wednesday afternoon,” Faulkner was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au before Monday’s practice session.

With Faulkner is pushing for inclusion, there is a potential that he could come in as a replacement for pacer Pat Cummins and that Australia might opt for two specialist pacers as well as seam-bowling all-rounders Mitchell Marsh, Shane Watson and Faulkner against the Afghans.

“I'm not too sure what they want to go in with, that's purely up to the selectors,” Faulkner said.

“All I can control is about getting back out on the park and giving myself a chance of playing again. The rest isn’t my job and it's not for me to worry about. That's their decision at the end of the day,” he added.