Fast-bowler Lockie Ferguson is determined to fight his way back into the Blackcaps test team, after being omitted from the 13-man squad.
Ferguson is currently putting in the hard yards at a Lincoln managed isolation facility, where he is one of six Blackcaps recently returned home from the Indian Premier League, alongside former players Shane Bond and Brendon McCullum.
The 29-year-old will feature in the three-match Twenty20 series against West Indies, starting Friday, but he isn't part of the squad for the two tests that follow.
Ferguson' only test appearance ended in disappointment, after he limped off with a calf strain that ruled him out of the remainder of the match.
While Ferguson was out injured, Kyle Jamieson made his debut for New Zealand, picking up nine wickets across two tests against India, including a 5/45 spell in a man-of-the-match performance that saw him jump up the pecking order.
Despite the setbacks, Ferguson's long-term goal is to become a mainstay in the red-ball team and he knows lots of hard work is required to make the team again.
"When you see the depth, with Kyle Jamieson - one of my good mates - coming through and taking his opportunity and playing very well, that puts pressure on other bowlers to perform well all through the levels," says Ferguson.
"The test side is a tough team to make - there's so much depth and obviously our big three [Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner] have been so successful for a long period of time. You can only take it game by game - it's tough to look too far ahead."
While in isolation, Ferguson has used the time to work closely with Bond, who took 87 wickets in 18 tests during his career.
Bond is confident Ferguson will be back in the test team soon, bringing a point of difference with his "intimidation factor".
"I think we've seen that in Australia over the past period of time, where they really do clean up the tail through using their fast bowlers and intimidating from [number] eight down," says Bond.
"No-one wants to face the sort of pace that Lockie bowls, particularly when he loves to bowl around the wicket as well - it's pretty horrible.
"He's sitting in behind - you'd argue - three, maybe four or five [bowlers], with Matt Henry around as well.
"I think everybody is more than aware of what he can do in terms of pace. He offers an intimidation factor, he's just part of our wider Blackcaps bowling squad."
Ferguson and the rest of the Blackcaps contingent are scheduled to leave managed isolation on Thursday, but must return one more negative COVID-19 test.
Join us on November 27 for live updates of the Blackcaps v West Indies T20 series.
