Perth, Mar 2: Australia all-rounder James Faulkner said Monday he was raring to go against Afghanistan after fearing his World Cup might be over before it had started.
Last month, Faulkner suffered a side strain while bowling during Australia's 112-run tri-series final win over England in Perth -- a match where he smashed a 24-ball 50 not out featuring four fours and as many sixes -- and left the field at the WACA visibly in pain. 
But now the 24-year-old Tasmanian hopes the same ground will witness his 2015 World Cup debut against tournament newcomers Afghanistan on Wednesday.
"I'd be lying to say I wasn't frustrated at the start," Faulkner told a news conference at the WACA on Monday. "Any time you get injured it's a shocking feeling.
"And to do it at the time it happened, it was obviously quite hard to take at the start.
"But it has given me some time to freshen up and get my body feeling good again.
"Hopefully it holds me in good shape come the end of this tournament."
Faulkner bowled several overs in the WACA nets on Monday and, provided there are no ill-effects, he should be available to face Afghanistan. "I think I was lucky being a left arm bowler and a right arm batsman, it wasn't the same side (bearing the strain) when I was batting," he said.    AFP