Ferisco loves mixing it with brand names...
COMPOSURE under great pressure is what separates the men from the boys, in a sporting context.
And, a virtual unknown prior to this season’s RamSlam T20 Challenge, 28-yearold has Ferisco Adams has transformed into a virtual cult hero at the Cape Cobras. So much so that he’s quickly earned the nickname #TheIceMan due to his heroics with both bat and ball at the “death” in the short format of the game.
Adams’s performances have been so critical to the Cobras’ cause this season that when his name was not on the scoresheet in Sunday’s defeat to the Warriors in East London, the passionate Cobras fan base immediately demanded an explanation on social media.
But the Bolander was not dropped for the crucial final league game of the season – had been ruled out due to being hospitalised on the morning of the game after waking up with severe chest pains.
“Perhaps it is all the excitement of the last couple of weeks,” Adams chuckled. “Seriously though, I was worried... everything was just so tight, I could hardly breathe, but I went to hospital where I had an ECG and it was just muscle tightness and nothing related to my heart fortunately.
“Obviously I can’t say how I am going to wake up again, but I had a full training session today (Tuesday) and I am ready for the semi-final on Thursday if selected.”
While many have been caught off-guard by Adams’s heroics over the past month, his performances have not come entirely out of the blue. Three seasons ago when the senior core of the bowling unit were either injured or on international duty, the little fighter from Robertson was pivotal in the Cobras annexing the 2014-15 RamSlam T20 title. Despite not playing all the games, Adams still managed to claim 10 wickets due to his fine skill-set and confidence at the back-end of the innings.
Unfortunately he was not able to continue this upward trend and cement a place in the Cobras team when some “big names” returned. But this did not deter Adams.
He went back to his provincial outfit and put in even greater effort, focusing especially on his batting. All those hours spent sweating away under the lights in the Boland Park indoor centre certainly paid dividends last Friday against the Titans when he smashed the winning runs off “Million Dollar Man” Chris Morris.
It was the stuff dreams are made of. The classic “David v Goliath” scenario, with Morris an Indian Premier League superstar who has graced the greatest coliseums around the world upstaged by a battler who doesn’t even hold a franchise contract.
“It certainly was a great moment. Playing in front of a packed Newlands and hitting the winning runs,” Adams enthused.
“But I try not to get intimidated by brand names. I have worked hard on my batting with Johann Louw at Boland over the past couple of seasons and I was confident that if it was in the right area I could put it away. They probably don’t know much about me, but that doesn’t faze me. Fortunately he bowled me a nice juicy full-toss on my legs so I could finish off the game.”
With the Cobras facing the Dolphins in the second semi-final tomorrow, it certainly is a good omen that the all-rounder and coach Ashwell Prince have already lifted a trophy together this year.
The duo were in Asia recently where Adams belted 12 sixes and seven fours at a strike-rate of 345.16 to help propel South Africa to the Hong Kong Sixes title.
“It was in Hong Kong where the coach really sat me down and told me that I should keep myself ready because I could still play a big role in the RamSlam. We’re here now and we really want to cross those final two hurdles,” Adams said.