James Faulkner hopes to one day fill the role of Australia’s Test allrounder, but believes replacing Shane Watson is a way off yet.

Faulkner played the fifth Test of this year’s Ashes series in the UK, with Watson, and has kept his spot in Australia’s 12 for the opening match at home.

The 23-year-old Tasmanian has cast himself as the classic swashbuckling allrounder with his aggressive left-arm bowling and clean hitting.

He could come into calculations for the Gabba if Watson’s troublesome hamstring rules him out.

Faulkner also looks to have a future as the allrounder Australia has craved since Andrew Flintoff’s Ashes heroics in 2005.

“Going forward down the track it would be a great role to be able to fill and play an important role in Australian cricket,” Faulkner told reporters in Hobart.

“At present he’s a pretty good player, Shane Watson, and he’s done that for a long time.

“I’m learning things off him every day.”

Nowhere was Faulkner’s can-do attitude more evident than in a man-of-the-match performance in last season’s Sheffield Shield final, when he steered the Tigers to the title.

Now entrenched in Australia’s limited overs set-up, and with a breakthrough century under his belt in the recent Indian series, national selectors also have him earmarked for the future.

“Give him the ball he seems to be able to conjure up a wicket,” chairman of selectors John Inverarity said.

“When he goes out to bat he can form a partnership.

“When he is in he goes and he goes hard.

“He’s a mature cricketer for a young man.

“We have high hopes for him.”

Faulkner will tune-up for the first Test, if needed, in Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield clash with Victoria beginning at Bellerive on Thursday, having been rested from the last match.