There is no greater endorsement for James Faulkner’s Ashes credentials than for one-day captain George Bailey to announce the tenacious rookie as the man the struggling Australians must emulate.
With their Champions Trophy chances hanging by a thread and Michael Clarke’s injury dramas casting a growing shadow of gloom over the more important Test match campaign ahead, Australia urgently need someone to stand up and lead the way.
Faulkner, just six matches into a one-day international career that only began in February, should be the example for his struggling teammates to follow, according to Bailey.
The 23-year-old bowling allrounder is a player driven more by self-belief and wholeheartedness than natural talent.
But Bailey says that’s the kind of team Australia must be if they’re to find their way out of their predicament.
“He just seems to find something. It’s not always pretty but it’s effective,” said Bailey.
“There’s a lesson in that, I reckon, for a lot of cricketers and certainly something this cricket side can take out.”
Faulkner was a shining light in Australia’s 48-run defeat in the Champions Trophy opener against England on Saturday.
He clean bowled dangermen Ian Bell and Jos Buttler to give Australia every chance of victory.
And when it was clear Australia were no hope of chasing down the winning target of 270, Faulkner jumped into the trenches again to bat his way to a career-best score of 54 not out.
On paper, Faulkner would appear to be behind the likes of Pattinson, Siddle, Harris, Starc and Bird in calculations for the first Test at Trent Bridge.
But he hasn’t been included in the Ashes squad to make up the numbers and it’s clear Faulkner’s star is rising.
“Faulkner is a fantastic operator,” said Australian fast bowler Dirk Nannes in radio commentary for the BBC.
“He knows his game really well for someone so young.
“He maybe lacks a yard of pace but he makes up for that in skill.
“He’s very competitive, an athlete and really impressive. He’s one to watch.”