Ferguson was a leg-spin bowler and hard-hitting lower-order batsman.[2] In his second first-class match for Trinidad in March 1944 he took 5 for 61 and 4 for 22, and made 60 batting at number nine, in an innings victory over British Guiana.[3] A year later he took 5 for 137 and 6 for 60 in a drawn match against Barbados.[4]
Ferguson was the leading bowler on either side during his debut Test series against England in 1947–48, playing in all four matches and taking 23 wickets at an average of 24.65.[5] In the Second Test on the matting pitch at his home ground in Port of Spain, he took 11 wickets – match figures of 73.2–9–229–11.[6] In WisdenNorman Preston commented that "no one looked as good as Ferguson, the stocky leg-break expert, who at times tossed his deliveries skilfully into the wind. His was a very fine performance ... on the easy-paced matting wicket."[5] In the Fourth Test, batting at number nine, he meted out "drastic punishment" to the England bowlers, scoring 75 in 105 minutes.[5] In his comments on the series, Preston noted that Ferguson "caused much merriment among the crowds when occasionally he removed his cap and revealed a bald head".[5]
Handicapped by shoulder trouble, Ferguson was less successful on the tour of India in 1948–49, playing in three of the five Tests and taking 10 wickets at an average of 44.30.[7] He took his best first-class figures of 7 for 73 in January 1950, when Trinidad beat Jamaica by an innings, but this was the match in which the young spinners Sonny Ramadhin and Alf Valentine made their impressive first-class debuts, and they were preferred to Ferguson when the team to tour England in 1950 was selected shortly afterwards.[8]
Ferguson toured Australia and New Zealand in 1951–52, but although he took wickets in the tour matches he was unable to displace Ramadhin and Valentine from the Test team.[9] In the match against Tasmania in Launceston he took 6 for 45 in the second innings, making use of a gale to deceive the batsmen with flight and spin.[10] He played one final Test against England in 1953-54, having little success except for a brisk 44 opening the batting in the second innings when West Indies were looking for quick runs.[11] Late on the last day, when the match was drifting towards a draw, Ferguson kept wicket, taking good catches standing up to the stumps to dismiss both opening batsmen.[12]
Referencesedit
^"Wilf Ferguson". CricketArchive. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
wilfred, ferguson, december, 1917, february, 1961, west, indian, cricketer, played, eight, tests, from, 1947, 1953, played, first, class, cricket, trinidad, from, 1943, 1956, wilf, fergusonpersonal, informationborn, 1917, december, 1917longdenville, trinidad, . Wilfred Ferguson 14 December 1917 23 February 1961 was a West Indian cricketer who played in eight Tests from 1947 48 to 1953 54 1 He played first class cricket for Trinidad from 1943 to 1956 Wilf FergusonPersonal informationBorn 1917 12 14 14 December 1917Longdenville Trinidad and TobagoDied23 February 1961 1961 02 23 aged 43 Port of Spain Trinidad and TobagoBattingRight handedBowlingRight arm legbreakInternational informationNational sideWest IndiesTest debut21 January 1948 v EnglandLast Test17 March 1954 v EnglandCareer statisticsCompetition Test First classMatches 8 49Runs scored 200 1 225Batting average 28 57 23 55100s 50s 0 2 0 7Top score 75 90Balls bowled 2 568 10 504Wickets 34 165Bowling average 34 26 31 555 wickets in innings 3 1110 wickets in match 1 2Best bowling 6 92 7 73Catches stumpings 11 0 48 0Source CricInfo 7 January 2020Career editFerguson was a leg spin bowler and hard hitting lower order batsman 2 In his second first class match for Trinidad in March 1944 he took 5 for 61 and 4 for 22 and made 60 batting at number nine in an innings victory over British Guiana 3 A year later he took 5 for 137 and 6 for 60 in a drawn match against Barbados 4 Ferguson was the leading bowler on either side during his debut Test series against England in 1947 48 playing in all four matches and taking 23 wickets at an average of 24 65 5 In the Second Test on the matting pitch at his home ground in Port of Spain he took 11 wickets match figures of 73 2 9 229 11 6 In Wisden Norman Preston commented that no one looked as good as Ferguson the stocky leg break expert who at times tossed his deliveries skilfully into the wind His was a very fine performance on the easy paced matting wicket 5 In the Fourth Test batting at number nine he meted out drastic punishment to the England bowlers scoring 75 in 105 minutes 5 In his comments on the series Preston noted that Ferguson caused much merriment among the crowds when occasionally he removed his cap and revealed a bald head 5 Handicapped by shoulder trouble Ferguson was less successful on the tour of India in 1948 49 playing in three of the five Tests and taking 10 wickets at an average of 44 30 7 He took his best first class figures of 7 for 73 in January 1950 when Trinidad beat Jamaica by an innings but this was the match in which the young spinners Sonny Ramadhin and Alf Valentine made their impressive first class debuts and they were preferred to Ferguson when the team to tour England in 1950 was selected shortly afterwards 8 Ferguson toured Australia and New Zealand in 1951 52 but although he took wickets in the tour matches he was unable to displace Ramadhin and Valentine from the Test team 9 In the match against Tasmania in Launceston he took 6 for 45 in the second innings making use of a gale to deceive the batsmen with flight and spin 10 He played one final Test against England in 1953 54 having little success except for a brisk 44 opening the batting in the second innings when West Indies were looking for quick runs 11 Late on the last day when the match was drifting towards a draw Ferguson kept wicket taking good catches standing up to the stumps to dismiss both opening batsmen 12 References edit Wilf Ferguson CricketArchive Retrieved 27 June 2022 Christopher Martin Jenkins The Complete Who s Who of Test Cricketers Rigby Adelaide 1983 p 335 Trinidad v British Guiana 1943 44 CricketArchive Retrieved 27 June 2022 Trinidad v Barbados 1944 45 Cricinfo Retrieved 27 June 2022 a b c d Norman Preston M C C Team in West Indies Wisden 1949 pp 739 60 2nd Test Port of Spain February 11 16 1948 England tour of West Indies Cricinfo Retrieved 27 June 2022 R W Thick West Indies in India Wisden 1950 pp 795 821 Trinidad v Jamaica 1949 50 CricketArchive Retrieved 27 June 2022 West Indies in Australia and New Zealand 1951 52 Wisden 1953 pp 813 41 Cannon Jack 11 January 1952 Ferguson Outwits Tasmanians The Argus 8 4th Test Port of Spain March 17 23 1954 England tour of West Indies Cricinfo Retrieved 27 June 2022 David Woodhouse Who Only Cricket Know Hutton s Men in the West Indies 1953 54 Fairfield Books London 2021 pp 261 80 External links editWilfred Ferguson at ESPNcricinfo Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wilfred Ferguson amp oldid 1095227259, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
