Ferguson to lock in test debut?
Hot on the heels of a breakout Cricket World Cup, Lockie Ferguson has his sights set on a test debut this summer.
The Black Caps quick cemented himself as one of the brightest one-day fast bowling talents at the World Cup, capturing 21 wickets at 19.47, the second most in the tournament behind Australia’s Mitchell Starc, who took 27.
Ferguson’s stock is on the rise and he looms as an intriguing option to become New Zealand’s newest test cricketer in the coming months. With a juicy three-match test series away to Australia in December-January, his express pace and bounce offer appeal, especially with the opening test at Perth Stadium, starting December 12.
In the only test played at the new venue, which opened in January, 2018, Australian pacemen Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood combined for 12 of the 20 Indian wickets last December. Indian fast bowler Mohammed Shami also nabbed 6-56 in an innings.
Coach Gary Stead might be eager to have a look at Ferguson in test cricket prior to the Australian tour during the two-match series against England in Mt Maunganui and Hamilton in November to open the home summer.
Breaking into the XI and possibly becoming New Zealand test cricketer No 276 is far from a given. Trent Boult and Tim Southee pick themselves as the established new ball duo, leaving Neil Wagner and Matt Henry to duel it out for the third seamer in home conditions. Boult (seventh) and Wagner (eighth) are both ranked in the ICC’s top 10 for test bowlers. Ferguson is dealing with a fractured right thumb, sustained while fielding at a training session in Sri Lanka ahead of the T20 series.
He is wearing a thumb splint to protect the injury and will know later this month when he can starting using his right bowling hand again. Ferguson won’t rush back ahead of schedule, but all going well, is hoping to return by late October with Auckland in the Plunket Shield.
Since arriving back from Sri Lanka, Ferguson has been able to fit in some running and gym work, not involving his hand.
The 28-year-old is under no illusion about the challenge of forcing his way into New Zealand’s test side, but said it would be a ‘‘dream come true’’.
‘‘I’ve been pretty vocal about test cricket being the one I want to play,’’ he told Stuff.
‘‘My whole career, I absolutely love playing the longer format of the game. I think a lot of cricketers say they don’t really judge themselves until they’ve played test cricket and there’s a big test cricket season coming up.’’
Ferguson has carved out an impressive record in red ball cricket for Auckland, snaring 149 first-class wickets at 24.65 from 41 matches. That includes careerbest match figures of 12-78 against Otago in 2017, bowling with another fractured right thumb.
The creation of the ICC test championship has provided a much needed spark for the sport’s long form.
New Zealand’s success at test level (they’ve soared to second in the ICC rankings and haven’t lost a series since March 2017 against South Africa), and the mouthwatering summer schedule against England, Australia and India only added to that, Ferguson said.
Getting a black baggy test cap would be a career highlight for Ferguson, but he was realistic about the competition for fast bowling berths. ‘‘I’m certainly not getting ahead of myself. There’s a lot of cricket to be played.
‘‘A lot of times in the past, I’ve focused a lot down the line and it doesn’t often help.
‘‘I’ll just keep working away game-by-game and those kind of things take care of themselves. It would be a dream come true for sure.’’