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Only three games remain in the ODI World Cup 2023 as cricket enthusiasts are waiting with bated breath to witness some exhilarating action in the two semi-finals and one final of the marquee event. The first semi-final will be played between India and New Zealand at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday, November 15.
Ahead of the mouth-watering clash, Kiwi pacer Lockie Ferguson said that they have a ‘handsome’ bowling unit even without Matt Henry, who suffered a torn right hamstring during a league stage encounter against South Africa and was subsequently ruled out of the tournament. The 32-year-old also praised experienced pacer Tim Southee and said that his experience of playing in Indian conditions would help the team.
“We look good here. Matt Henry is obviously a big hole in our side and we’re still a handsome bunch without Matt Henry,” Ferguson told the media ahead of New Zealand’s training session at the Wankhede Stadium.
“I will take that on the chin, but now, from a cricket point of view, Tim Southee brings a lot of experience. Obviously, being captain of the Test team, captain in the T20s and one-dayers too, that experience counts for a lot. He has also played a lot in India, which is great too, obviously pretty disheartened with how Matt Henry exited the World Cup, which was such a shame” Ferguson added.
Important to read the pitch well: Lockie Ferguson
Lockie Ferguson noted that most of the venues in the ODI World Cup 2023 have been high-scoring and laid emphasis on reading the pitch correctly. He suggested that the Blackcaps have different plans in place but it will all boil down to execution on the day of the clash.
“A lot of Indian grounds have been high-scoring. That’s the nature of one-day cricket in this part of the world. It’s trying to understand what the pitch will be like and read what a good score on it is because those big overs, 10 runs here or there, can cost you at the back end of the innings,” Ferguson added.
“At the same time, it’s not up to me and we have to play the game on the day. Whatever it might be – bat or bowl first – we’ve got plans for that. It’s important to stick to them. Obviously, it’s nice to bowl under lights, nice to see when the ball does move around a bit and it brings us into the game. We’ll have to play it as we see it come game day, but I’m looking forward to it,” Ferguson concluded.
