Speedster Lockie Ferguson registers career best figures with a broken thumb

26-year-old Lockie Ferguson has proved that it takes real valour and fortitude to be a trooper in the gentleman’s game. The Auckland fast bowler suffered what was reported as a broken thumb after being struck on the hand while batting last week. However, it seems a cracked bone in a cricketer’s hand isn’t enough to keep them down these days. Ferguson backed up at Eden Park for their round three fixture against Otago and went on to record his career-best figures.

He snared figures of 7/34 on day two on Wednesday, including his 100th first-class wicket. With this stunt, Ferguson follows suit of Canterbury captain Andrew Ellis who played the last two rounds with a broken bone in his hand, which even saw him bat one-handed at No. 11.

Match Details

Succumbing to a broken thumb, the Auckland seamer went to bat in at the 11th spot. However, his tender right thumb was shown no mercy by Neil Wagner who removed him with a short-pitched delivery. Ferguson could only manage to face two deliveries.

Clearly enough, this fired him and the speedster tore through Otago’s batting in 15 devastating overs, including first-ballers for skipper and former team-mate Rob Nicol and Black Cap Mark Craig.

Middle-order batsman Anaru Kitchen was the best of the visitors with a neat 43. With Otago skittled for 170 it gave Auckland handy 43-run first innings lead at their beloved Eden Park. They built on that strongly later on the second day after captain Michael Guptill-Bunce (29) and Test opener Jeet Raval (28) couldn’t kick on.

Robbie O’Donnell reached his half-century just before the close and all-rounder Sean Solia, the New Zealand A call-up back from injury, looked the part at No 4. He ended the day 43 not out, the pair having added 92 unbroken and Auckland’s lead out to 205.