Yet that may work very much in favour of player and club. Much as in the case of Duanne Olivier, we have picked up an overseas fast bowler who has a reputation to make and potential suitors to impress.
Be in no doubt, 'Lockie' Ferguson is fast. Blindingly so when it all comes together, when he can consistently hit speeds in excess of 90mph. The final 'whip' as his bowling arm comes through is impressive and must make facing him challenging. He is at an age when his body is developed to handle bowling quickly, so we should hopefully see a robust bowler.
Wahab Riaz, Hardus Viljoen and now Lockie Ferguson. That is serious pace in the Derbyshire T20 attack. If we dare to assume that radars will be collectively locked on, they will carry a threat. If they aren't...well, let's not think about that just yet.
The loss of Mitchell Santner was huge and, as I have written before, top-class spinners are as rare as snowdrops in the Kalahari. My understanding is that contractual complexities made any move for Yasir Shah a non-starter and I wasn't convinced he was a top T20 bowler anyway. It would have been nice to retain Duanne Olivier, for reasons I have mentioned already, but in a heavily restricted market we may just have got lucky here.
It is a contact book signing and Ferguson comes with a relatively low profile, at least in this country, that could well prove to be of mutual benefit. What is noticeable below, in the video clip, is how many of his victims are bowled or leg before, a sign of a real express bowler.
There have been cries regarding a need for a top order 'gun' batsman, but so many are in international action, in the CPL or simply too wealthy to care after IPL stints. We have had cavalier players before, like Tillekaratne Dilshan and Loots Bosman and while all base our hopes and wishes on the couple of times they come off, they can equally frustrate the heck out of you when they more frequently don't.
The bottom line is that John Wright, a man who has coached a side to winning the IPL and knows what it takes to win it, wanted top bowlers for his overseas roles. I am prepared to concede and bow to his greater knowledge.
The rest is down to those players to justify his trust and do the business when and where it matters.
Welcome to Derbyshire, Lockie. May your stay be a long, rewarding and enjoyable one.
Not quite the 'marquee' signing described yesterday although it was said that it had come from John Wright's contact book. Tend to agree that some big names can be just along for the ride and with his first experience in the UK Lockie will be keen to prove himself. Personally I'd have preferred a batsman as I'm not convinced that Madsen/Godleman and Critchley will be able to repeat last year's heroics at the top of the order - however McLeod looked a useful player at Durham and should add to the mix.
ReplyDeleteJW was very enthusiastic at the forum yesterday and it was pretty clear that he wouldn't have returned if he hadn't felt confident of similar success as last year.
Good luck Lockie, you'll need it playing with this shower.
ReplyDeleteTell me then Peakfan, where the runs are going to come from in the T20 blast, and how quickly will we get them?. Big mistake getting another bowler, we're swamped with them really. we've no destructive batsmen and it will show big time when the action gets under way.
ReplyDeleteMark, they aren't a 'shower' but are in need of that most elusive of commodities, form.
ReplyDeleteNor am I convinced we are awash with bowlers, at least not good ones at present. It is all very well saying we need a destructive batsman, but who is available? And who is going to pay the massive salary such players command? Because we don't have the money for the big names of the format.
In slipping under the radar, Ferguson MIGHT surprise a few. I haven't seen much of him, but if John Wright rates him, that will do me for starters.
Welcome to the lad. Slightly reminds me of when we signed Henry. Hope this one works out better.
ReplyDeleteI feel we are massively missing a batsmen or two and I can’t se who’s Sherif who is supposed to be a T20 expert gets into the team unless we drop one of Viljoen or Rampaul (perfectly feasible).
I have a feeling John Wright will do some first Xl v second Xl friendlies and we may even see Wood or Hughes back in the first team squad. I personally see Critchely as a finisher but am open to him opening again by all means.
I didn’t realise he was actually signed on for the rest of the season. I didn’t think that was made clear in the announcements. I’ve just seen the interview with Duane and in that article it makes it clear but I must confess I didn’t see it at the time (even though Peakfan clearly did due to the title of this particular blog which passed me by
ReplyDeleteRe friendliest , I understand John Wright XI play Dan Whieldon XI at Belper on Wednesday July 4th start time 5pm.
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