Ferguson ‘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 secondchance 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 [on Tuesday],’’ 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 Wednesday’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 dom-