The value of the Tasmanian all-rounder was rammed home yet again on Sunday, as his electrifying unbeaten 50 from 24 balls careered Australia to what proved far too imposing a total for England in the tri-series final at the WACA.

England, who Australia have now beaten three times in 16 days, were bundled out for 166 to lose by 112 runs.

The hosts' joy at another defeat of their first World Cup opponents and the starring role played by Glenn Maxwell were tempered, however, by concerns about the immediate future of Faulkner.

The 24-year-old left the ground on Sunday afternoon, unable to complete his third over after pulling up sore following his third ball. He was attended to by Australian team doctor Peter Brukner and didn't return.

The injury, should it prove serious, looms as a significant blow for Australia's chances of becoming only the second host nation to lift the World Cup. Australia's first game, against England at the MCG on February 14, is less than a fortnight away and if there was any doubt what they would be missing in his absence he dispelled it with another scintillating exhibition in Perth.

Established as one of the one-day game's premier finishers only two years since his debut, Faulkner's brutal, blink-and-you'll-miss-it half-century at No.8 lit up the WACA and ultimately left the Australians well out of reach of the visitors.

Should he be a tournament scratching, NSW all-rounder Moises Henriques, who was called up for Australia to take on England in Hobart nine days ago and starred in the Big Bash League final, would be a leading contender to replace him in the Australian squad.

While Faulkner looked despondent after exiting the arena, fellow all-rounder Maxwell (95) wrapped up a fine individual performance in Perth by claiming 4-46 and taking a brilliant diving catch at backward point.

He's lumped with Australian cricket's most unwanted nickname. He can't do much about that now; Matthew Wade, the creator of the 'Big Show', has left him with that moniker for life.

What he can do, however, is prove there is as much substance to him as style, that he's not simply a walking highlights package and he did that on Sunday in a 141-run stand with an excellent Mitchell Marsh (60).

There was a footnote. Living dangerously, he threw his wicket away five runs short of a maiden ODI hundred. But if Australia don't have Faulkner at the World Cup, this is the Maxwell they will need even more.

"I think Maxy, the way he played today, was outstanding," Steve Smith said. "He gave himself a chance and got himself in and probably didn't take a risk until he got himself to 50. I think that's the way he should play in the future."

Maxwell added: "I've screwed it up a few times for us before so it as nice to get us through to that 40th over. I've just got to keep trying to get past that three-figure mark. It's nice to be entering the World Cup in form with both bat and ball."

Maxwell said Faulkner was hurting at the prospect of missing out on the World Cup. "I think he's pretty down at the moment, with obviously such an amazing thing coming up for us, a home World Cup," Maxwell said. "I think the thought of any of us being ruled out so late with an injury, even if it's nothing, just the thought of that I think would hurt a lot of people.

"I know a few of us were out there hurting for him when he went off. He's a super cricketer and he's a vital cog in this Australian outfit. We just hope it's nothing and he's being soft and he gets back and trains hard for us next week. We're all feeling fo him, we hope he recovers pretty quickly can get back out there for us.

"I think he's the best finisher in the gamer comfortably. The way he just assesses the situation and just dominates with the death and even with the ball ... he's a vital part of our one-day side."

England later buckled against a familiar foe.

It had been 373 days since they last came face to face with the man chiefly responsible for wresting the Ashes from them so devastatingly last summer.

For a few moments on Sunday, it seemed like yesterday. Missing throughout this one-day campaign and for the fourth Test against India, Mitchell Johnson (3-27) was ushered back in on Sunday and picked up exactly where he left off, recapturing some of the firepower that floored the old enemy more than a year ago.

Mitchell Starc was named man of the series.