‘I’m still really dedicated to playing for New Zealand’ – Lockie Ferguson on juggling franchise and international cricket

Lockie Ferguson, a New Zealand speedster, has maintained his commitment to serving the national team, declaring that playing for the Black Caps is still his primary objective, despite his expanding involvement in T20 franchise leagues around the world.

Ferguson joins a growing list of Kiwi talents, including Kane Williamson, Devon Conway, Trent Boult, Finn Allen, and Adam Milne, who have declined core contracts to chase possibilities in various T20 leagues. This tendency reflects a bigger shift in the cricketing scene, in which players desire greater flexibility in juggling national responsibilities with lucrative franchise tenure.

Ferguson is due to play for the Trent Rockets in The Hundred, and while he accepted his decision to leave a central contract, he stressed that his desire to wear the New Zealand shirt remains strong. He expressed optimism for a healthy balance between international duties and franchise cricket.

“I just think they’re finding a balance between the two, to be honest. I think some boards sort of handle it differently. But from my point of view, I’m still very committed to playing for New Zealand. I still love playing for my country. And it’s just about finding the balance, however that might be. After this, I go home and have a bit of a stint back with New Zealand. We’ve got three series back there. So, hopefully take the park,” Ferguson said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

“As I said, it’s nice to play in your home conditions. It doesn’t happen as much as it used to, which is the good thing about playing a lot of franchise cricket. But yeah, I think from all points of view, playing World Cups is still very much the pinnacle. And although we enjoy playing franchise, I think getting back and playing for your nation is something special,” he added.

‘It is great for the game’ – Lockie Ferguson on IPL’s investment in The Hundred

There has been renewed buzz around The Hundred this year following significant investments from Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise owners. The GMR Group, co-owners of the Delhi Capitals, now hold a stake in the Southern Brave, while the RPSG Group, owners of the Lucknow Super Giants, have acquired a 70 percent stake in the Manchester Originals. Several other IPL franchises also have stakes in The Hundred. Ferguson sees this as an exciting development for the tournament and believes it signals promising times ahead.