JAMES Faulkner has continued a Launceston tradition with a player-of-the-match performance in a victorious cricket World Cup final.
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Launceston's David Boon and Mowbray's Ricky Ponting won the award in the 1987 and 2003 finals respectively and at a packed MCG yesterday it was another Lions old boy playing a starring role.
A panel of judges felt that Faulkner's 3-36 off nine overs, which ripped the heart out of New Zealand's middle order, was pivotal to setting up the seven-wicket win for Michael Clarke's men.
The 24-year-old all-rounder, who produced a double-wicket maiden in the 36th over to stem the Kiwis' resurgence before later claiming top-scorer Grant Elliott, received his award from Indian great Sachin Tendulkar.
"It's an amazing feeling to play in front of 93,000 fans here at the MCG," Faulkner said.
"I was just trying to chip in and play my role for the team and what a performance today. It's been an amazing couple of years for the Australian one-day outfit and we really brought our A-game today."
Although the tournament proved a frustrating experience for fellow NTCA products George Bailey and Xavier Doherty, who watched the majority of it from the sidelines, Faulkner ensured that all of Australia's five World Cup wins involved Tasmanians after Boon in 1987 and Ponting in 1999, 2003 and 2007.
The success came as a surprise for Faulkner, who feared his World Cup campaign was over after suffering a side strain on the eve of the tournament.
The all-rounder admitted to fearing the worst on February 1 when he felt a twang at the WACA and trudged off the ground in the tri-series final.
"Definitely. I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a moment when I didn't think I'd be here today," Faulkner said.
"Thankfully the physio staff looked after me."
Meanwhile, Clarke ended his international cricket this summer as he had started it - by honouring Phil Hughes.
The record MCG crowd gave him a standing ovation on the way to the crease and again as he walked off after Matt Henry had bowled him with only nine runs needed for the win.
Clarke was emotional as he left the field, touching the black armband on his sleeve and raising his bat to the sky.
It is just over four months since Hughes tragically died, rocking Clarke and Australian cricket to their core.
"We played this World Cup with 16 players and tonight is certainly dedicated to our little brother and teammate Phillip Hughes," Clarke said at the post-match presentation.