Lancashire sign James Faulkner as overseas player
Friday 10 April 2015 15:23, UK
Lancashire have signed Australian World Cup winner James Faulkner as their overseas player once Peter Siddle departs.
Siddle, picked in the Test squad ahead of this summer’s Ashes series, will play in the first four County Championship matches this season before joining up with the Australia squad.
He will then be replaced by compatriot Faulkner, the man-of-the-match in the World Cup final last month.
The Tasmanian all-rounder will arrive after he completes his commitments in the Indian Premier League with Rajasthan Royals and will stay with Lancashire until the end of August when he will join up with the Aussie ODI squad. He will be available to play in all competitions for Lancashire.
Faulkner established himself as a regular in the Australian ODI team in 2013 and in the third ODI against India he smashed 64 off just 29 balls, which included 30 off an Ishant Sharma over, to win the game for his country. Later on that year he hit his maiden ODI century – also against India – which came off 57 balls. It was the second quickest ton by any Australian batsman.
Lancashire head coach Ashley Giles told Sky Sports New HQ he is delighted to have a signed a player of Faulkner's class.
He said: "James is a fantastic all-round cricketer. He's a World Cup winner now, man-of-the-match in the World Cup.
"When you sign high class players like Peter [Siddle] you are always at risk that you may lose them.
"James will join us after his IPL commitments right through to when he joins Australia for the one-dayers.
"It's fantastic for Lancashire and really exciting for all of us.”
Faulkner added: “Lancashire is a huge county with a fine history in the game and I am looking forward to joining the squad next month.
“Playing in English conditions will benefit my career and I cannot wait to work with Ashley and the rest of the team.
“Emirates Old Trafford is a fantastic, world famous cricket venue and playing my cricket there will put me in good stead for when Australia play two Royal London ODIs there in September.”
