Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson‘s Test aspirations are still as strong as ever after a calf strain cut short his performance in his only Test, against Australia in Perth last December.
Ferguson said he had time to reflect on a lot of things about his “whirlwind” career during the recent lockdown, including what kind of a player he wants to be for New Zealand in all formats, especially Tests.
“The lockdown treated everyone differently but certainly for myself, it gave me the time naturally to reflect on what’s happened in the last few years,” Ferguson said on the sidelines of New Zealand’s winter training camp in Mount Maunganui. “It’s been a bit of a whirlwind three years being on tour and playing all year around. And just to reflect on how that went, what kind of player I want to be in the future and how best I can be suited to hopefully playing all three formats because I want to play all three formats for the country.
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“I have certainly been excited to be part of the [Test] squad and getting a bit of taste of Test cricket although it wasn’t to be my Test match but certainly it’s in my goals. Test cricket is one of those formats I really want to play and by no means do I look lightly upon T20s and one-dayers because I’ve thoroughly enjoyed playing those. The goal is still alive within all three formats and how best I can play in all three and be an effective player and most importantly how to get us more wins.”
Ferguson picked up a calf strain on the first day of his Test debut after bowling 11 overs and an MRI scan later confirmed he couldn’t bowl in the remainder of the match. He nearly had Steven Smith as his maiden Test wicket on that day but the batsman was dropped at second slip.
Ferguson, who is known for clocking upwards of 150kph consistently and has had a much greater impact in ODIs and T20s so far, realises breaking into the Test XI again won’t be easy as senior quicks Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner are often certain starters, and he will have to compete with Kyle Jamieson and Matt Henry for a spot.
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Jamieson impressed in his two Tests against India in February by dismissing Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli as his first two victims in Wellington, and then picking the Man-of-the-Match award with a five-for in the next match in Christchurch.
“It’s been an awesome time for the Test team,” Ferguson said. “Kyle Jamieson came in on the back of some unfortunate injuries and performed so well which is awesome. He’s a good mate and now we’re competing against each other for a potential spot in the side and that’s fantastic as well.
“I think the Test team has been performing so well lately but the communication I have with senior bowlers and the learnings I get off them is only going to make me a better player. The more I can mix at training with them, learn from them and try to become a better Test bowler will only help me.
“But as I said it’s exciting just to be back with the chunk of the group this week and having some sort of competition in the nets which I’m sure we’re all a little bit hungry for. I have no direct format I’m working towards, I just want to make sure I’m as best a player across all three [formats] and an effective team player.”