Lock it in: Ferguson’s test callup imminent
With five successive tests looming against England and Australia, it’s a matter of when, not if, Lockie Ferguson dons his first New Zealand test cap in the next two months.
One of the Black Caps’ players of the year in white-ball cricket will continue his push for a deserved test callup when he grasps the red ball for Auckland against Plunket Shield leaders Wellington at the Basin Reserve today.
In a clear signal the fast bowler is in the frame for the two England tests, starting at Mount Maunganui on November 21, Ferguson was excused from the final two Twenty20 internationals and named in Auckland’s 13 to travel to Wellington.
It sets up an intriguing duel between two seemingly certain test players of the future, with Ferguson set to charge in against Devon Conway fresh off a mindboggling double of 327 not out and 66 against Canterbury.
The South African becomes eligible for Black Caps selection on residency grounds in September, with 508 runs already in the bank for the shield season at an average of 169.
New Zealand’s selectors are scheduled to name their test 13 squad to face England later next week, with the fast bowling makeup and solitary spinner the only two discussion points.
New ball duo Tim Southee and Trent Boult are assured, while Ferguson, Neil Wagner and Matt Henry have plenty to play for in the final shield round before the competition’s hiatus until February 22. Only four of those five will make the test squad.
Wagner is the incumbent and in his most recent test snared 9-73 in victory over Bangladesh in Wellington in March. Of New Zealand’s top-10 test wicket-takers, Wagner’s strike rate of 52.6 is second only to the great Sir Richard Hadlee (50.8).
The left-armer took 8-166 for the match at the first test venue, Bay Oval, in Northern’s loss to the Stags last weekend and would count himself unlucky to be overlooked for the 11 against England.
But 150kmh man Ferguson is looming fast as a contender for that spot at first change in the intimidatory role Wagner plays so well on flat surfaces.
Ferguson’s first-class record is good, 149 wickets at 24.65, and his extra pace, hostility and wickettaking ability he showed at the
At a glance
Plunket Shield round three, today from 10.30am:
■ Wellington Firebirds v Auckland Aces at Basin Reserve, Wellington
■ Central Stags v Canterbury at Saxton Oval, Nelson
■ Otago Volts v Northern Districts at University Oval, Dunedin. Points after two rounds: Wellington 39, Central 24, Auckland 21, Canterbury 11, Northern 10, Otago 8.
World Cup when second-highest wicket-taker behind Mitchell Starc was compelling. His gamechanging ability was obvious again in Nelson on Tuesday with his wickets of Lewis Gregory and Sam Curran in three balls effectively sealing victory.
The fact New Zealand play five tests on the bounce – two at home against England, then three against Australia in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney – means coach Gary Stead will likely rotate his pacemen as Australia did successfully in retaining the Ashes with a 2-2 series draw.
Henry should also get a chance with the new ball in at least one of the five tests if either Boult or Southee are injured or rested.
With the test batting top-six set in stone and Colin de Grandhomme established as the allrounder, the only other question is which spinner gets the nod?
Todd Astle, Will Somerville and Ajaz Patel will all play the next shield round while Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi continue in the T20 side.
Given spinners get minimal chances in pre-Christmas tests in New Zealand, the potential clincher may be batting ability at No 8 with Santner and Astle at the head of the queue there.
That would be harsh on Somerville and Patel who established themselves as the preferred spin duo in offshore tests in the 1-1 series draw with Sri Lanka.