Ferguson had given up on IPL auction
Black Caps quick Lockie Ferguson was crawling into bed when he learned he’d been snapped up with the last act of the Indian Premier League auction.
Ferguson was purchased by the Stephen Fleming-coached Rising Pune Supergiants for NZ$104,000, who also shelled out a record $3.01m for English all-rounder Ben Stokes.
The Auckland fast bowler was one of five Kiwis sold on Monday night [NZ time], along with $1.04m man Trent Boult [Kolkata Knight Riders] Corey Anderson [Delhi Daredevils], Matt Henry and Martin Guptill, who went to Kings XI Punjab.
Ferguson was ready to get some sleep on Monday after going through the auction once and not attracting any bids. He was then brought back out at the second-chance stage and picked up by Fleming’s Supergiants as the final player of the auction.
‘‘I was in bed trying to get an early night’s sleep- obviously a big day of training [yesterday],’’ Ferguson said.
‘‘I got a text from a mate saying ‘You beauty’ ... I was pretty happy.’’
Ferguson, who is gunning for a spot in the Black Caps’ playing 11 for today’s second ODI against South Africa at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval, had given up hope after the first round of the auction.
‘‘I saw my name go through the first time and it sort of skipped over me, so I thought maybe not this time around. Then I got a text later on saying all good, so I was pretty happy.’’
Ferguson has enjoyed a rapid rise in recent months, making his New Zealand ODI debut against Australia in Sydney in December.
This time last year, he was steaming in for the Aces in domestic cricket. When the IPL begins in April, he’ll be able to call Stokes, Australian skipper Steve Smith, South African batsman Faf du Plessis, Indian legend MS Dhoni and offspinner Ravi Ashwin team-mates.
Ferguson has met Fleming once before and was eager to work with the former Black Caps’ skipper and get a taste of bowling in Indian conditions.
‘‘Kiwis get along pretty well, so I look forward to spending some time with him. There’s a quite a few of the Aussie blokes we’ve just played against. Obviously, I’ll be able to get on better terms with them.’’
Ferguson offers a point of difference with his ability to rip the ball down at 150kmh and unsettle batsmen. Fleming was no doubt intrigued by his pace.
Quicks featured prominently in the auction with English left-armer Tymal Mills, a T20 hired gun and Aces’ team-mate of Ferguson, fetching a staggering NZ$2.4m from Royal Challengers Bangalore.
‘‘I think in India, they look for fast bowlers probably a bit more than your spinners and your batters, which is fine. It sort of works in my favour a little bit.’’
Ferguson had already spoken to injured Auckland and Black Caps’ fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan about what he could expect in the IPL.
McClenaghan [Mumbai Indians] was was one of 140 players retained by the eight franchises with fellow Kiwis Kane Williamson (Sunrisers), Brendon McCullum (Gujarat Lions), Tim Southee (Mumbai) and Adam Milne (Bangalore) remaining with their teams.
‘‘The first thing he brought up was sweating quite a lot because I’m a big sweater,’’ Ferguson said.
‘‘You don’t know what you’re going to experience to you get over there.’’
IPL auction aside, the Black Caps have a cricket match to play today.
After losing on the penultimate ball in Sunday’s opening ODI in Hamilton, a rain-reduced 34 over match, Ferguson and his side are desperate to level the series at 1-1.
Warm weather is expected in Christchurch with 29 degrees and northerlies forecast.