The last season of the Indian T20 League saw a tussle for supremacy between speedsters Umran Malik and Lockie Ferguson. Both bowlers bowled at the peak of their powers with Umran Malikbowling at 157kmph in the league stage. The Kiwi bowler Ferguson, however, was able to edge Umran Malik after bowling the fastest ball at 157.3 kmph ball in the final.
The express bowler has recently revealed that his focus is always on taking wickets and not bowling fast. Ferguson played for the Gujarat team in this season’s Indian T20 League and won the coveted trophy defeating Rajasthan in the final.
Speaking to ESPN Cricinfo, the pacer said,
“I’ll be honest; I don’t focus on the speed during the game. It’s never really a thought and I think there are so many other thoughts around scouting, the batter I’m bowling to, and what I’m trying to achieve with that ball. Speed of the ball is probably the last thought I’ve got while bowling.”
Speaking on his clash with Jos Butler in the final, he said,
“Of course, I’m constantly working on it and it’s nice to clock up the fastest ball, but at the time, it was very much me vs Jos thing and what ball I can get him out with. Full and fast was probably the option there because he picked up lengths so well and it all happened so quickly out there that I wasn’t so focused on the actual speed of the ball.”
The Kiwi bowler also expressed his joy in playing for the debutant franchise Gujarat, where he played under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya.
Speaking of the same he said, “Yeah, it was an exciting tournament. I’ve reached two IPL finals and lost both times. Just to get across the line and get that monkey off my back was good. The way the team is set up with Hardik [Pandya] and Ashish Nehra leading us, it’s a pretty calm and collected group.”
