Australian fast fast-bowling all-rounder James Faulkner has said that he is not 'daunted' by the batting challenge that confronts him in the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval starting on Wednesday.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Faulkner, who has replaced top-order batsman Usman Khawaja, is set for a challenge as he would be making his Test debut in the Ashes finale despite failing to score any hundreds in any form of the game domestically or internationally.
However, the report said that Faulkner has grown up in cricket dressing rooms with his father playing 54 Shield games for Tasmania and then going on to be their chairman of selectors, adding that cricket is in Faulkner's blood and his aggression, competitiveness and toughness got him the nod, despite his batting numbers.
As such, Faulkner is confident that he has what it takes to bat in the top 7 for Australia, saying that instead of being daunting, the task is a privilege and might be a good opportunity for him, adding that he just needs to back his preparation and skill and let them take over in the match.
Faulkner further said that he is aiming for a big performance to dispel suggestions that his debut is a 'dead rubber' selection, adding that surviving Ryan Harris in the Sheffield Shield final was the right preparation for the Test furnace as that innings were one of his best.
Stating that his batting has improved a lot in the last couple of seasons, Faulkner also said that he is lucky that he got a chance to play some finals for Tasmania, which, he hoped, has kept him in good stead.
