James Peter Faulkner (born 29 April 1990) is an Australian former international cricketer who played for the Australian cricket team from 2013 to 2017 and currently in domestic cricket for Tasmania. An all-rounder, Faulkner is known for his aggressive batting in the middle order, and for his bowling at the end of limited-overs innings.[2]
Faulkner captained the Tasmanian under-17 team while already playing in the state's under-19 team and Second XI. He earned a state rookie contract for 2007–08 season and was in the Australian under-19 team at the 2008 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup after playing in the Australian Cricket Academy's development squad in 2007.[5]
In 2021 he played for Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).[9] He was drafted by Quetta Gladiators for the 2022 PSL.[10] In February 2022 he quit the PSL mid-season, accusing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of not honoring contract terms.[11] In response, the PCB denied all allegations and claimed that he was paid as per his contract. Faulkner threw his bat and his helmet into the chandelier of the PC hotel and threw his kit from the second floor of the hotel after being told he wasn't going to be paid the sum he was asking. Faulkner was subsequently banned from ever participating again in the PSL.[12]
International career
Faulkner made his international debut for Australia in a 2012 Twenty20 International against India.[13] He toured England in 2013 and was selected for the fifth Ashes Test of the tour. Australian selector John Inverarity described Faulkner as the sort of player who "gets things done",[14] while captain Michael Clarke said that Faulkner could provide some toughness that Australian might have lacked in previous matches on the tour.[15]
Throughout 2013, Faulkner went on to establish himself as a regular member of Australia's limited-overs team. In the third One Day International against India in October, he scored 64 runs from 29 balls, including 30 runs off a single Ishant Sharma over, to help win the match for Australia.[16] He scored his maiden One Day International century in November, at the time the second fastest ODI century by an Australian, reaching his hundred from 57 balls.[17][18]
In the 2015 Cricket World Cup Final, Faulkner took three wickets for 36 runs (3/36) and was awarded the Player of the Match as Australia won the competition.