Ferguson ‘in the mix’ for South Africa tests

Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson is looming into the test selection mix as New Zealand cricket coach Mike Hesson considers whether a point of difference is needed in his pace trio to face South Africa.

Hesson confirmed an unchanged squad for Friday’s second test against Bangladesh in Christchurch after their sevenwicket win in Wellington, but bowling selection conundrums may arise for three big home tests against the Proteas in March.

New Zealand’s remarkable victory in Wellington, when they became the first team to concede 595 or more and win a test, didn’t mask the fact they leaked that many runs and snared just eight wickets after winning the toss.

Of the 16 Bangladesh wickets taken by New Zealand bowlers, Neil Wagner bagged six and again led the way with aggression and a short-pitched barrage. His match haul of 6-188 off 59 overs (3.2 runs per over) clearly shaded Trent Boult’s 5-184 off 47.5 (3.8 RPO) and Tim Southee’s 3-192 off 47 (4.1 RPO).

Again on a flat pitch, the Black Caps’ bowling looked onedimensional when the new ball didn’t swing for Boult or Southee.

After a tough ODI debut in Australia, Ferguson made a flying start to his Twenty20 international career with two wickets in two balls against Bangladesh in Napier.

On Sunday he roared through A flurry of recent wickets and his 150kmh pace has Lockie Ferguson looking ever more a test contender against South Africa. Northern Districts with a haul of 6-27 in a 50-over match, and in four Plunket Shield appearances for Auckland this season has 18 wickets at 22.

With Adam Milne still sidelined, Ferguson is the only 150kmh bowler in New Zealand. With his ability to hurry up batsmen and deliver a devastating yorker, Ferguson looks just what they need to add firepower in short spells against South Africa’s batsmen.

‘‘He [Ferguson] certainly in the mix, not for the next test match, but he’s bowled a lot of overs in Plunket Shield the last couple of years. We’ve given him a few work-ons. He’s a really promising cricketer in all forms but not just at this stage,’’ Hesson said.

Boult and Southee remain some way off their best in tandem. There were mitigating factors like the Wellington gale which negated swing, and a flat pitch, but Hesson needs to see more from his dynamic duo by the time they return to the Basin for the second test against South Africa on March 16.

‘‘He [Boult] is going all right. He picked up three [on Monday] and reverse swung it quite nicely. I don’t think Trent’s quite at his best yet, but look out when he is,’’ Hesson said.

The coach and chief selector reiterated his policy of no rotation in test cricket, and picking the best XI for the conditions. Matt Henry is the extra paceman in the squad but has also lacked sharpness in recent months.

Christchurch’s Hagley Oval may at least provide more swing and seam for New Zealand’s quicks as it did for the first Pakistan test in November, and after Bangladesh’s Monday meltdown the hosts will be back to short odds to seal the series 2-0.

Putting aside injuries to key batsmen Imrul Kayes and Mushfiqur Rahim, Hesson felt the Wellington test swung on two pivotal moments: Mitchell Santner’s direct hit run out of Mehedi Hasan on the fourth evening, and first innings double centurion Shakib Al Hasan’s awful shot on nought which sent the touring Bangladesh media into uproar.

Hesson rated Bangladesh highly but the wind may have been taken from their sails.

‘‘Potentially, but they’re very much an aggressive mindset and they’re good frontrunners. If they get a good start in a test match they can still put us under pressure. Our challenge is to make sure that’s not the case.’’

Santner impressed with his highest test score of 73 at No 8 and may earn a shift up the order. Colin de Grandhomme hasn’t nailed down the test No 6 spot and Hesson wants his allrounder to be a batsman first.

‘‘We’ve always talked about Mitch being a work in progress and being an allrounder for us. Whether it’s Colin or him or Neesh [Jimmy Neesham], whoever it is, they don’t really have a number on their back they’re still expected to provide an allrounder role, whether that’s six seven or eight. It was nice for Mitch to get through a bit of a tough time and show his quality.’’ Bouncer defended B12 bombardment ❚