A fearsome quick able to bowl at breakneck speed, Derbyshire has signed New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson for this summer’s Vitality Blast.
The colourful seamer brings raw pace as well as an exuberance and desire to take wickets for Derbyshire, following in the footsteps of fellow New Zealand overseas players.
Keen to join Specialist Twenty20 Coach and fellow Kiwi, John Wright, Ferguson has been clocked at 95mph and has pace and bounce in abundance.
Wright spoke to Ferguson prior to putting pen to paper and was impressed by his desire and hunger to take wickets, a necessary asset for a quick bowler in Twenty20 cricket.
The 27-year-old has experience of cricket on the world stage and broke into New Zealand’s ODI side at the end of 2016 after impressing for Auckland.
He has featured in 16 ODIs for the Black Caps and taken 21 wickets with best figures of 3-17. His first wicket in the format came against Australia at Sydney, when he hurried the experienced David Warner who chopped on a fierce delivery onto his stumps.
His pace impressed overseas and Ferguson was snapped up by Rising Pune Supergiants in the 2017 IPL. After an inauspicious start, the lively quick came back with figures of 2-7 from four overs in a 61-run win over Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Overall, he has claimed 76 white ball wickets, But he is also an adept first-class bowler having represented his native Auckland since 2013. Born and bred in the city, Ferguson has taken 124 first-class wickets for Auckland and New Zealand, including best figures of 7-34.
This will be Ferguson’s first foray into the English domestic game, however he has faced off against a number of the Blast’s biggest local stars, having played England in a One-Day International series in New Zealand in 2017.
He now arrives at The 3aaa County Ground hoping to lead a strong Derbyshire pace attack, which also features internationals Wahab Riaz, Hardus Viljoen and Ravi Rampaul.
Welcome to Derbyshire, Lockie.
Vitality Blast is back! Derbyshire Falcons host seven Twenty20 games this July and August. Purchase your tickets in advance and save from £4. Buy online or call 01332 388 101.
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