Ferguson locks in cup ticket
Sage pre-series advice from Shane Bond helped spur Lockie Ferguson to new heights in the United Arab Emirates as he became the latest member of New Zealand’s ODI five-wicket club.
More significantly the fast bowler looks a very safe bet to make the World Cup squad for the UK next year after adding a different dimension with his 150kmh top speed, aggression and variations.
Ferguson’s 11 wickets for the ODI series at an average of 12.8 and economy rate of 4.8 shone through the gloom of the Dubai washout in game three, which saw the Black Caps and Pakistan both pose with the trophy at 1-1.
In his 19th ODI the 27-year-old Ferguson took his international game up a level and snared career-best figures of 5-45 in Pakistan’s innings of 279-8 yesterday. New Zealand were 35-1, minus the injured Kane Williamson, when rain had the final say.
It contrasted with a rare offday for Trent Boult who, after his game one hat-trick, took 1-80 in his second most expensive 10-over spell in ODIS.
Bond and Boult each have four entries in New Zealand’s ODI five-wicket club, and Ferguson credited Bond’s influence for his rise in the UAE where fast bowlers have had their hearts broken on the slower pitches.
‘‘He’s a bit of a New Zealand hero and my action is a little bit modelled on his. It was great having him [Bond] as head coach for New Zealand A and I had a lot of great chats with him working out different ways to attack batsmen in these conditions where we don’t get the pace and bounce from back home,’’ Ferguson said.
It was a close run thing for man of the series but it went to Pakistan teenager Shaheen Afridi, the towering left-armer splaying Colin Munro’s stumps and ending with nine wickets at 11.3 and 4.9, similar figures to Ferguson’s.
With swing at a minimum for the senior Black Caps bowlers, Ferguson had the Pakistan batsmen ducking and diving, changed his angles to around the wicket and felled Imam-ul-haq who was too slow on a bouncer in game two. Scans cleared Imam but he sat out game three.
Mohammad Hafeez was promoted to open in the decider and, after he and Fakhar Zaman saw off Boult and Matt Henry – recalled for Tim Southee – Ferguson forced him back so far he trod on his stumps.
The other four wickets were late, after Pakistan had got away, three of them in the final over as Ferguson also showed his worth as a death option with some crossseamers.
‘‘I changed my game plan from the first two games coming into this one on a little bit slower wicket,’’ he said.
‘‘Around the wicket probably wouldn’t have worked as well. I just looked to hit a hard length, nice and straight, and bring the stumps into play a bit more.’’
He hadn’t checked the speed gun but felt his rhythm was good, and he’d benefited from plenty of bowling in the leadup.
It’s a tick under two years since Ferguson’s ODI debut against Australia in Sydney.
‘‘When I first started international cricket it’s quite nerve wracking, adjusting to playing the best players in the world. After a few games you work it out and learn about yourself and have the ability to compete at this level.
‘‘I’ve been in England [with Derbyshire] for three months and been part of the NZ A side so I’ve had a decent stint and it all helps that work overseas bowling in different conditions.’’
Ferguson now heads home as Neil Wagner comes in for the three-test series, which starts in Abu Dhabi on Friday (7pm NZT).
Williamson is expected to be fit for the tests after he was a late scratching from game three due to a minor groin strain, handing over the reins to Tom Latham.