Exclusive: Lockie Ferguson Gears Up for Champions Trophy Return with ILT20 Tune-Up

New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson will return to ODI cricket, after 15 months, with the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He is currently leading the Desert Vipers in the International League T20 in the United Arab Emirates and oiling his machine for the multi-nation tournament.

The Champions Trophy starts on February 19 in Pakistan. It is the country's first ICC event in 28 years, the last being the World Cup in 1996. India, however, will play its matches in Dubai, UAE.

Ferguson last played in the ICC World Cup in 2023.

Prepping for Champions Trophy in ILT20

He felt the experience of playing the ILT20 before touring neighbouring Pakistan [Karachi and Rawalpindi] could be beneficial due to the similarity in weather around this time of the year. On top of that, New Zealand will play India in Dubai. "No doubt experience of these conditions counts, and you can't buy it. It is difficult to tell someone from New Zealand what it is like here unless they come and experience it. I have spent some time playing here [UAE]. I played in the Indian Premier League and the T20 World Cup, where I got injured. I was part of the training and build-up," he told Sportsboom.com in a video interaction from Sharjah.

Ferguson's career-best ODI figure of 5/45 came against Pakistan in Dubai, where he has 11 wickets in only three matches in 2018. And he has picked up nine wickets in six matches across three venues in the ongoing ILT20.

Thanks to IPL coaches

The Black Caps pacer was part of Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL editions in the UAE in 2020 and one-half of 2021. He praised the coaches and other fast bowlers for knowledge-sharing. It turned him into a better bowler. "I am very fortunate to play quite a few years in the IPL and talked to bowling coaches and the players about success. We get a lot of feedback from the stats and numbers, but at times, it gets difficult.

"When you're playing in your own country, you are used to having success bowling in a certain way as pitches are different. International players who adjust the quickest to the conditions get a lot of success. You don't know how to adjust unless you have played here before. It is exciting that we play all around the world, and every country and ground is unique and different," said Ferguson, who is currently on 99 ODI wickets.

When in doubt, dial Amir

Ferguson has been picking the brains of former Pakistan left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir, his team-mate at Desert Vipers, to bowl better in the Asian and Middle-Eastern conditions.

He possibly learned a few secrets on how to perform under pressure in high-profile competitions too, as Amir had destroyed India in the ICC Champions Trophy final eight years ago with 3/16. "I have had great conversations with Amir about his experience in this part of the world. It is nice to know how he holds his overs and understands when it is time to attack and defend. The fast-bowling fraternity is special, and we are happy to share even if we are not playing in the same team," added the speedster, who was the second-highest wicket-taker in the ICC World Cup 2019.

Change of pace

Ferguson is aware that bowling straight-up quickly would not bring him success in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka [where he bagged a T20 hat-trick last year], or the UAE, but a change of pace would. "You can't rely purely on pace in this part of the world. The faster you bowl, the faster it leaves the ground. As I reflect on my career, I have a few tricks and I try to read the game as best as possible," he said.

New Zealand crashed out of the group stage in the previous Champions Trophy. This year, led by new captain Mitchell Santner, they would hope to prove a point. Ferguson and Matt Henry will have to play guide to young pacers Will O'Rourke and Ben Sears. "Champions Trophy feels a while away, and I am a game-by-game player, and I have a week at ILT20. When the tournament arrives, I look forward to joining the Black Caps group and taking it from there."