RAPIDS’ Vitality Blast quarter-final hero Callum Ferguson believes his adopted county can ‘go all the way’ on finals day at Edgbaston on September 15.
The Australian batsman admits it will be ‘flattening’ to miss the climax to the competition after hitting a match-winning half-century in the quarter-final win over Gloucestershire.
However, Ferguson, who has returned down under to prepare for the new Australian season, has no doubt the Rapids can make their mark in three weeks’ time in Birmingham.
“I won’t be there for finals day and it is going to be flattening watching it from a distance, but I know how much it means to this group,” he said.
“They’ve been really close the last few years in all formats so the chance to go to a finals day is huge for this group. It’s a young group so to get that experience under their belt will be great.
“They’ve played a lot of quarter-finals and semi-finals and this was a great experience for them to get over the line in one of them. I think they will go into finals day with a lot of confidence.
“It is a really well rounded side, plenty of options with the bat and the ball. I believe this side can go all the way.”
Worcestershire chief Kevin Sharp paid tribute to the contribution made this summer by Ferguson and said the popular Aussie had made a ‘telling’ impact for the Rapids in both the Royal London One-Day Cup and Vitality Blast.
Sharp said he was delighted Ferguson will be returning to Blackfinch New Road from May 1 next summer – after his wedding and honeymoon – for the majority of the campaign.
“Callum, we knew his track record in Australian cricket and he has been a revelation for us. He started to play in the 50-over competition, coming a bit earlier than initially planned (for Travis Head) and made some fantastic contributions and it’s been the same in T20.
“He loves the game of cricket, he is a mature man, a skilful player, he just fitted in so well and is a good bloke,” he added.
Worcestershire Rapids will be first to take centre stage on finals day when they face Lancashire Lightning at 11am.
The two teams are the nearest placed geographically to Birmingham. This will allow more time for the supporters of the teams in the second semi-final – Sussex Sharks and Somerset – to make their respective journeys from the south and south west for the 2.30pm start.
The victors of the Rapids-Lightning and Sharks-Somerset clashes will fight it out under lights in the final at 6.45pm.
