Ferguson expects pacers to feature prominently in India tour of New Zealand

Lockie Ferguson said on Friday he expects fast bowlers to play a big role in the limited-overs contests during India’s upcoming tour of New Zealand, which begins with five T20 internationals from October 22. He made the remarks ahead of a five-match ODI sequence that follows the T20s.

The 35-year-old pointed to New Zealand’s bowling resources and squad balance when discussing the significance of pace for the series. The tour schedule comprises five T20Is starting October 22, followed by five One-Day Internationals. Coverage of India’s tour of New Zealand, starting October 22, will be live and exclusive on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV.

“I like to think that they (fast bowlers) are going to play a big part in the series. In New Zealand, this time of year, it’s a bit cooler at night, and I’m not sure how the ball will perform off the wicket, whether there’s dew, the wicket’s a bit soft, or we get some swing. So it’s always nice to see bowlers showing their skills off with the white ball,” said Ferguson during a media interaction on Friday.

On New Zealand picking a pace-heavy squad, Ferguson highlighted the advantage provided by all-rounders, saying: “We’re blessed that we’ve got pretty fantastic spin bowling all-rounders, which allow us to play more fast bowlers. So it depends, sort of year to year, on your squad balance and the players available. But look, if I took a seat in the stands and watched the New Zealand’s fast-bowling depth we have at the moment, it’s pretty exciting. And you get that extra balance. And if you bowl hard into the wicket, you can get rewards,” said the 35-year-old.

Ferguson also addressed the interest around Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, praising the youngster’s potential and presence on the international stage: “He’s obviously a great talent. We’ve spoken about him a lot. He’s fairly got a lot of praise because of how well he’s done. He’s a young lad, and he’s got a long career ahead of him. It’s exciting to see young stars coming through as teenagers and doing well on the world stage. From the New Zealand public’s point of view, I imagine they’re excited to see that talent live in person.” “I’m sure he’ll face some challenges, but it’s going to be an exciting series,” added Ferguson.

The tour opens with the five T20 Internationals beginning October 22, followed by five One-Day Internationals, with live and exclusive broadcast on Sony Sports Network and Sony LIV.