James Faulkner the finisher gone from Twenty20. How good are the contenders? Smooth: Nathan Coulter-Nile in action during game five of the one-day international series against England in Adelaide. James Faulkner's injury-enforced withdrawal from the home Twenty20 series against England, and the resulting doubt about his availability for the World Twenty20 tournament, is a major blow to an area Australia can least afford in the shortest format: pressure bowling. And the contenders for his position will have to press their selection claims against a top order that contains three of the Big Bash League's most destructive batsmen: Alex Hales, Michael Lumb and Luke Wright. Since the last World Twenty20 in 2012, the left-armer has clearly been Australia's best and most used bowler during powerplays, when the fielding team is allowed only two outfielders, and during the last three overs when batsmen are typically at their most attacking. Keeping things tight. During both periods Faulkner has bowled 12 overs, twice the tally of teammates Nathan Coulter-Nile and Josh Hazlewood, and conceded just 7.58 runs an over. His record between the 18th and 20th overs is even better, taking three wickets in his six overs and conceding 9.83 runs an over. While that may not seem impressive in isolation, it easily trumps all other bowlers. Shane Watson conceded 12.6 runs an over, Ben Laughlin 15.82 and Coulter-Nile 16.5. George Bailey, who this weekend reaches his second anniversary as Twenty20 captain, concedes Faulkner will be "a big loss" for the series. He's been a really adaptable player and he's bowled in key areas of one-day cricket, and he does the same for us in the T20s. He tends to be probably our most consistent finisher," he said. He's obviously come along as a great lower-innings striker of the ball. He's a good fielder, so he's someone who will be sorely missed. But I think the news is pretty good for him being back, hopefully for the South Africa T20s. In Faulkner's absence against England, candidates to bowl more at the start and end of the innings include Coulter-Nile, Hazlewood, Faulkner's replacement Kane Richardson, and Mitch Starc once he resumes from injury on Friday or Sunday. Bailey's ability to influence the team during his captaincy has been hindered by the paucity of matches, with Australia playing only six matches since the World Twenty20 tournament that finished in October 2012. In that period Australia has only one win: against England after the winter Ashes, when Aaron Finch walloped a record 156 off 63 balls. For the March series in South Africa and the World Twenty20 that follows, Australia will be bolstered by at least Shane Watson, David Warner, Mitchell Johnson and Faulkner if he recovers from knee surgery in time. Brad Haddin, Shaun Marsh and Steve Smith are also likely to be in strong contention. With Warner and Watson absent this series, Cameron White and Chris Lynn are likely to fill their top-order berths. England Twenty20 captain Stuart Broad said there was a "real hunger" in the England squad to finish the tour well, especially from the players who are part of all three squads: himself, Tim Bresnan, Joe Root and Ben Stokes. England cricket's been through a tough three months, with a lot of hurt players because we've not done ourselves justice on the field. But it is key to remember how well this Twenty20 side has played for a year or so," he said. We've got some unbelievable strikers in our side. If we can lay a platform with the likes of Lumb, Hales, Wright - you see how they strike a ball - and then you've got [Eoin] Morgan and [Jos] Buttler coming in. It's a pretty scary batting line-up.