Lockie Ferguson is a genuine fast bowler, a player who has harnessed his strength to consistently hit hard lengths and use the bouncer as a variation, often at full speed, making him a quality bowler at cricket world cup.
There have been some inconsistencies with him in recent months, perhaps due to trying too hard or, in some cases, being a bit unlucky because he didn’t particularly bowl at his best, yet he conceded a few runs.
Not highly rated by and often under criticism from modern cricket pundits, Lockie Ferguson has steadily made efforts. In three matches at the Cricket World Cup 2023, Ferguson has taken three wickets twice.
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The last time he had a three-wicket haul was in November 2022 against India in Auckland. Surprisingly, before 2022, his last commendable performance came in the World Cup final at Lord’s against England when he took three crucial wickets.
Inconsistency kept him in and out of the New Zealand side, and in the next two years, he played only one ODI in 2022 against Australia at the SCG. He found his way back into the team during an ODI series against Ireland, where he picked up two wickets in the first match.
New Zealand tried a number of pace options who impressed with their performances, but from July 2022, they started to rely on Ferguson, who, at times, delivered performances that helped the team win matches. While not overwhelming, his contribution was valuable.
Despite a patchy period, Ferguson remained in New Zealand’s plans because he brings the X-factor with him. Particularly in the middle overs, he can be a deadly weapon. Another significant reason is that once New Zealand’s opening bowlers have done their job, Ferguson’s role becomes more evident.
It’s not easy for any batter to face 150 kmph deliveries consistently when the team is in a precarious situation, having lost early wickets. With such pace, Ferguson can certainly extract reverse swing if there is some assistance available in the wicket.
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In this World Cup so far, Ferguson has checked all the boxes. Back-to-back 3-wicket hauls, good pace, and disciplined bowling have provided New Zealand with a fair and reliable pace option. Now, immediately after the first powerplay, Latham brings him into the bowling attack, and he does his job with sneering pace.
Ferguson is the only successful pace bowler in the tournament so far. Mark Wood has struggled to control his pace and has leaked runs, perhaps due to not finding the right length to bowl under these conditions. The case of Haris Rauf is even more troubling. Despite all the pace, he has lacked control, often being either too full or too short, which can be a delight for a stroke player in these conditions.
