Faulkner's ODI axing no shock: Haddin

Former Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin has backed the surprise axing of allrounder James Faulkner, tipping his replacement John Hastings to give Australia's vaunted pace-attack a point of difference at the upcoming Champions Trophy.

Player of the 2015 World Cup final, Faulkner's clever death bowling and lower-order batting saw him become a key member of Australia's world-leading one-day international side.

But in the aftermath of that World Cup triumph two years ago, the Tasmanian has suffered a major form slump with the bat in the 50-over format, failing to reach 50 and averaging less than 20 since the tournament decider.

Haddin, whose ODI swansong came in that same MCG showdown with New Zealand, says his former teammate would likely have seen his omission coming.

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"James would be disappointed, but over the last 12 months, he hasn't consistently been in Australia's best XI for a long time now," the 39-year-old told cricket.com.au as part of the ICC Champions Trophy tour.

"We know the performances he can give in the international space but we haven't seen that power hitting for a long time.

"I think this is a selection that's been coming for a while.

"James is a competitor in his own right, he'll go away and work on what he needs to.

"But he hasn't been in that number one Australian team for a long time."

Batting at No.7 and 8, Faulkner earnt the moniker of 'The Finisher' following a number of match-winning lower-order efforts in ODI cricket.

His 50-over batting average sat comfortably above 42 in early 2015, but since helping Australia become the 50-over world champions, Faulkner has had modest returns at the crease. With a top score of 36, he's managed just 174 runs at 17.40 in 23 matches since the 2015 final.

But with his left-arm seamers and clever variations remaining as potent as ever, Haddin believes Faulkner has the capability to win a spot back batting higher up the order.

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"You'd like to see James come back and be able to hold down a number six spot with the bat," the 66-Test veteran said.

"You'd hope his game keeps developing so he can hold down that spot and give you those dangerous overs with his changes of pace through the middle and back-end of the game.

"I just think it's a different team and as a team of bowlers, your role can change a bit with the balance of the team.

"He hasn't been in that best XI for quite some time … but it won't be the last we've heard of James Faulkner."

Hastings meanwhile could slot right into Faulkner's No.8 spot for the Champions Trophy as Australia weigh up numerous bowling combinations for the tournament to be held early in the United Kingdom season.

The hulking seamer has considerable experience in English conditions, playing two seasons with northern county Durham in 2014 and 2015, while he's currently making his return from a serious knee injury with Worcestershire.

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That setback saw Hastings unable to push for a spot in Australia's post-Christmas one-day assignments but the right-armer was the second-highest ODI wicket taker in the world in 2016, his 29 scalps second only to Adam Zampa's 30.

With the 'big four' of Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson and Pat Cummins all picked in Australia's squad for the two-and-a-half-week tournament, Haddin says Hastings could add some grunt and local nous to their pace attack.

"I think that's exactly what he's there for – to be a point of difference," Haddin explained.

"He can take the new ball if you need to … but he bowls more through the middle stages of the game and he also can also close out a game.

"He's a very clever bowler. I think he just complements those big four, those four out-and-out pace bowlers.

"He was unlucky to miss out during the Australian summer but he plays the English conditions really well.

"He's been playing cricket over there consistently for the last two years in the UK, so he understands conditions well.

"I think he's a really smart selection by the Australians."

Champions Trophy 2017 Guide

Squads: Every Champions Trophy squad named so far

Group A: Australia, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh.

Group B: India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan.

Schedule

Warm-up matches

26 May – Australia v Sri Lanka, The Oval

27 May – Bangladesh v Pakistan, Edgbaston

28 May – India v New Zealand, The Oval

29 May – Australia v Pakistan, Edgbaston

30 May – New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Edgbaston

30 May – Bangladesh vs India, The Oval

Tournament

1 June – England v Bangladesh, The Oval (Day)

2 June – Australia v New Zealand, Edgbaston (D)

3 June – Sri Lanka v South Africa, The Oval (D)

4 June – India v Pakistan, Edgbaston (D)

5 June – Australia v Bangladesh, The Oval (D/N)

6 June – England v New Zealand, Cardiff (D)

7 June – Pakistan v South Africa, Edgbaston (D/N)

8 June – India v Sri Lanka, The Oval (D)

9 June – New Zealand v Bangladesh, Cardiff (D)

10 June – England v Australia, Edgbaston (D)

11 June – India v South Africa, The Oval (D)

12 June – Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Cardiff (D)

14 June – First semi-final (A1 v B2), Cardiff (D)

15 June – Second semi-final (A2 v B1), Edgbaston (D)

18 June – Final, The Oval (D)

19 June – Reserve day (D)