"Sticking a knife straight in my back": James Faulkner distraught at Hobart Hurricanes' attitude

Hobart Hurricanes all-rounder James Faulkner has lashed out at the Hurricanes management and head coach Adam Griffith for not treating him the way he should have been and offering him a one year contract for the BBL. He targeted, in particular, Griffith, who in a press conference had said that the Hurricanes bowling attack was better off without Faulkner. 

"When you watch the news, and you see who I thought was one of my mates, as well as the head coach, say the bowling group and the team have performed well without me, first of all, and then secondly saying, we need to move on and that he didn't really care - that cuts deep," Faulkner was quoted as saying to SEN Hobart. 

"That's like sticking a knife straight in my back. That's not called for,” he added. 

Talking about the contract saga, which leaves him unsigned for this season, the 31-year-old said, "I found it pretty hard to take. I found it pretty disrespectful for what I've sort of given to Tasmanian cricket. I've put my heart and soul into it and to hear their initial offer, and that is what it all comes down to, it cut pretty deep.”

Saying that he knows his worth and that he was also okay to take less money, the all-rounder said he was just shattered by the team’s approach towards him. 

"I know what I'm worth. I've signed enough contracts around the world for different teams. I didn't want more. I just wanted what was fair and what I thought I was worth and even maybe a little bit less. But it just comes back to that first offer. I didn't feel respected as a player or a person or a Tasmanian athlete. I'm just shattered how it has all played out,” said the man who was Man of the Match in the 2015 World Cup Final which Australia won at home. 

Faulkner, who last played an international game for Australia way back in 2017 and has been plagued by injuries ever since had come back to Hobart in 2018-19 after seven straight seasons at Melbourne Stars. The Hobart-born wanted to finish his career playing at his home in front of his friends and family.

"I wouldn't have wanted to play for any other franchise anyway. The whole reason I came to the Hurricanes was to finish here and play in front of my family and friends and play with some of my best teammates that I have great memories with and for that not to happen it's bloody disappointing,” said Faulkner who was injured after playing only six matches of the last season. He took eight wickets in those matches.