Waugh says 'injured' all-rounder Faulkner can return to Oz's WC squad as specialist batsman

Former Australian batsman and current team selector Mark Waugh has claimed that injured all-rounder James Faulkner is so vital to the nation's Cricket World Cup plans that he could make his initial comeback as purely a lower-order batsman.

Faulkner would be kept from bowling for at least the opening three weeks of the World Cup because of a side strain, but the all-rounder's match-winning ability is so vital with the bat that there's an argument for him keeping his eye in while recovering.

Faulkner, who bats number eight, exclusively batting in a big match like the Eden Park showdown against New Zealand could affect the balance of the side, but it's a measure that could easily be justified against a minnow like Bangladesh, Afghanistan or Scotland, News.com.au reported.

And then if Faulkner was fit to bowl in time for a quarterfinal knockout, he at least wouldn't be looking for timing and rhythm with the bat as well.

Waugh, who was a star in Australia's 1999 World Cup triumph and one of Australia's all-time batting greats, knows the importance of keeping the same side together to gain momentum in a big tournament.

Faulkner averages 48 in ODIs and Waugh says that he's good enough to return as a batsman if circumstances are right.

Waugh said that he has always told the other selectors that he believes the all-rounder could definitely bat in the top six and purely as a batsman because he plays so well under pressure.

The former batsman insisted that Faulkner knows his game really well so returning initially as a batsman is a definite possibility. He added that it would be a different challenge for the all-rounder because being an out-and-out batsman it does obviously put a bit more pressure on one as a player.

Waugh claimed that if a player is an all-rounder they have their bowling to fall back on.

Waugh revealed that it would be a different mindset Faulkner would have to carry into a game, but added that he's definitely talented and won a lot of games for Australia with the bat so he is sure it would be talked about.