Faulkner injury a worry for Aussies

PERTH: Australia have a fresh injury concern less than two weeks before the World Cup as James Faulkner left the field with a side strain in the tri-series final against England in Perth on Sunday.
While bowling his third over in the match, the all-rounder was troubled by pain in the right side. He consulted his captain George Bailey and left the field. Cricket Australia confirmed that the star all-rounder had suffered an injury and a full medical report is expected in a couple of days.
Faulkner's injury is bad news for the Aussies as the opening match of the World Cup against England is just a fortnight away (February 14). The 24-year-old all-rounder has been a key player in the Australian ODI side in recent years.
The gravity of Faulkner's injury wasn't lost on fellow all-rounder Glenn Maxwell. "He's pretty down at the moment with such an amazing thing coming up for us a home World Cup," Maxwell said after the match.
"The thought of being ruled out so late with an injury, even if it's nothing, just the thought of that would hurt a lot of people. I know a few of us out there were hurting for him when he went off. He's a super cricketer and he's a vital cog in this Australian outfit. We can hope it is nothing, that he's being soft and gets back and trains hard with us next week," Maxwell said.