James Faulkner claims a disrespectful and “embarrassing” low-ball offer led to his messy departure from BBL club Hobart, adding coach Adam Griffith stuck a “knife straight into my back”.
James Faulkner was the toast of Australian cricket in 2015, earning man-of-the-match honours after helping Australia win the ODI World Cup final in front of 93,013 fans at the MCG. The allrounder hasn’t represented Australia since 2017 but, prior to his relationship with Adam Griffith sensationally breaking down, remained a high-profile player in the Big Bash.
James Faulkner Disappointed After Adam Griffith Said Hobart Hurricanes Performed Well Without Him
James Faulkner detailed his side of the story on Friday, admitting he was “shattered” to be snubbed after joining Hobart in 2018 with a view to finishing his career at home. The Tasmanian declared the Hurricanes’ contract saga left him “stranded” and unable to join another BBL team, forcing him to now look at rival T20 leagues.
“It is very disappointing,” Faulkner told SEN.
“They brought an initial offer to my manager … it was pretty embarrassing. Pretty hard to take. Pretty disrespectful for what I’ve given to Tasmanian cricket. I’ve put my heart and soul into it … it cut pretty deep. They actually called me in before I went to the Pakistan Super League to apologise, and it still never got sorted out. They just left me in the background really after promising me they’d sort it.”
The 31-year-old, interviewed by close friend Tim Paine on the Test skipper’s new radio program, was particularly scathing of Adam Griffith.
“I thought (he) was one of my mates as well as the head coach,” Faulkner said.
“(He said) the bowling group and the team have performed really well without me … we need to move on and that he didn’t really care. That’s like sticking a knife straight into my back. That’s not called for.”
Adam Griffith insisted last week the club was “very keen to keep James”.
“Jimmy’s had a lot of injuries and hasn’t spent a lot of time on the park but when he has, he’s been really good,” he told cricket.com.au.
James Faulkner fumed about Adam Griffith “using” injuries against him.
“Last season I had an eight-week hamstring.I tried to come back in three and a half weeks and put my body on the line, so we had a shot at making finals. Which I was happy to do. But for the coach to use that against me I felt was wrong. Because it ended up costing myself when it came to other tournaments … I had to start rehab again. It’s all OK for them to say they want me but when they offered what they did … it was pretty clear they didn’t.”
Former Hurricanes skipper Tim Paine was “amazed” the BBL club let James Faulkner go.
“I haven’t seen him as upset as he is,” Paine said.
James Faulkner represented Australia in 69 one-day internationals and 24 T20s, with his finest moment-winning player of the match in the 2015 ODI World Cup final as Australia claimed victory at the MCG.
James Faulkner Will Play In PSL
The Tasmanian all-rounder will continue playing in overseas T20 tournaments like the Pakistan Super League. He took 36 wickets in 25 games for the Hurricanes at an economy rate of 8.02 after signing a three-year deal ahead of BBL|18. Since signing for the Hurricanes on a three-year deal in 2018, James Faulkner has taken 36 wickets at 19.05 with an economy rate of 8.02.
A hamstring injury sidelined the left-arm pace all-rounder for most of the 2020/21 competition, where Hobart Hurricanes failed to qualify for the finals series – he featured in just 12 of the Hobart Hurricanes’ 29 games over the past two seasons due to injury.
For Tasmania, the three seasons from 2010-11 to 2012-13 saw James Faulkner play a crucial role, awarded the Ricky Ponting Medal as the state’s finest player three years running as the side claimed two Sheffield Shield titles.