Fans and players take to social media applauding his late-innings hitting in Brisbane.
It was the victory that would had done immeasurable help to the England cricket team, and they looked to be doing it easy mid-way through the Australian reply at the Gabba.
But like his heroics in India in their series last year, James Faulkner had other ideas as he blasted 69 runs off 47 balls, many of which were with number 11 batsman Clint McKay to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Twitter went into meltdown during the final two overs where Faulkner scored 25 runs to secure victory for Australia with three balls remaining, giving them a 2-0 lead in the ODI series.
This is how James Faulkner finished it off with No. 11 for company: 6, 6, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 0, 6, 1, 0, 0, 2, 2, 1, 0, 0, 6, 6, 0, 1, 4, 4, 4
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) January 17, 2014
Alastair Cook looks like he stabbed a man in a fit of rage and is just realising what he’s done. #AUSvENG
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) January 17, 2014
Faulkner has batted five times in 2nd innings in ODIs: 54*, 17, 64*, 116, 69*. 320 runs, out twice, off 205 balls, 18 sixes. Clonk.
— Andy Zaltzman (@ZaltzCricket) January 17, 2014
Cook rightly talks up brilliance of Faulkner’s innings, but seems unaware that as opposition captain he’s allowed to try and prevent it.
— Dave Tickner (@tickerscricket) January 17, 2014
Can’t remember consistently worse captaincy than Alastair Cook on this tour. Tactically inept, melting under pressure. #AUSvENG
— Alternative Cricket (@AltCricket) January 17, 2014
Australia’s last pair adds 57 in 5.3 overs. McKay made 2 of those. It’s all James Faulkner. This is the first 300 chase at the Gabba.
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) January 17, 2014
Great advert for ODI cricket… @FaulknerC25 take a bow.. That was as good a finishing innings as I have ever seen …
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 17, 2014
Fair play Faulkner! Some serious hitting!
— Phil Tufnell (@philtufnell) January 17, 2014
WOW, WOW, WOW from @FaulknerC25, unbelievable, amazing & so happy for him !!! Well done champion…. Totally awesome display…
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