Lungi Ngidi wants to take the new ball for South Africa in Tests

Lungi Ngidi made his Test debut for South Africa against the Indians and made an immediate impact. He picked up 6 wickets in the second innings at Centurion to bundle the visitors out and win his team the match. He picked up nine scalps in the last two games of the series but still only found a place in the Proteas lineup in absence of Morne Morkel. Against Australia, he got to play only the second Test and he claimed five in the game.

Ngidi was signed up by the Chennai Super Kings for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 and emerged as their lead pacer. He bowled with the new ball and also in the death. His contribution helped the team sort their death bowling woes and was a key cog in the IPL championship winning franchise.

Want the new ball

Talking to the media in South Africa Lungi said that he wants to be the national team’s new ball bowler and is trying his best to earn that.

“I want to take the new ball for my country, so I’m trying to perform as best as I can and put myself in the best position to be selected,” Ngidi said. “It’s a big responsibility but it’s part of the game and is something I’ve always wanted. I’m going to keep working towards that and focus on my own game and contribute towards my country as best as I can,” he added.

At the moment it is Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada who share the new ball in absence of Dale Steyn, it isn’t easy for the 22-year-old to immediately get the role and he understands that.

“It’s difficult for me only having played a few international games,” said Ngidi. “We still have Dale, Vern and KG who are still frontline bowlers. I’m just trying to add to the pack and strengthen the group. It’s difficult to say where I fit in at the moment, but whenever [I am] called upon there’s a job to do.

“The Australia series really helped me realize where I fit in the picture, running into guys like that and being able to bowl decently was nice to see,” he further mentioned.

IPL experience

He picked up 10 wickets in 7 matches for the Super Kings with the best of 4/10 against Kings XI Punjab. The best part was that the right-arm pacer adjusted to the Indian conditions and hurried on the batsmen with his pace, surprised them with the bounce and used the sluggish wicket to his favour as well with the variation in pace.

“The wickets were a lot better than I expected,”Ngidi said talking about the time in the IPL.

“That was pleasing. I’m not saying it will be the same in Sri Lanka, but just to be able to play in those conditions, in terms of the heat, humidity has put me in a better position to face Sri Lankan conditions.

“The line and lengths are crucial there. I just made sure I was attacking that fourth stump, hitting the top of the stumps and making the batsmen play. It’s a cliche we hear but it’s not so easy to execute on the field and keep repeating it. Those are the most important things about bowling in sub-continent conditions,” he stated as per sacricketmag.

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