1 week Ago
Victorian seamer Fergus O’Neill has finished his County Championship stint as the competition’s leading wicket-taker, further cementing his status as a future Australian Test prospect. The 24-year-old helped Nottinghamshire secure a nine-wicket victory over Sussex at Trent Bridge this week, taking 3-74 from 26 overs in the second innings, including a one-handed return chance to remove opener Tom Haines for 64. O’Neill, signed by Nottinghamshire for the opening four rounds of the red-ball competition as a replacement for South Africa’s Dane Paterson, claimed 21 wickets at 17.
90 during his brief County Championship tenure, the most for any bowler in either division. He maintained an economy rate of 2.67 across the four matches, taking five-wicket hauls against Durham and Warwickshire, including a career-best 5-19 at Edgbaston.
The right-hander, pushing all-rounder status, also made handy contributions with the willow, cracking 42 against Essex and 50 against Warwickshire. FOX CRICKET, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of the 2025 Indian Premier League exclusively LIVE | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer > Nottinghamshire, undefeated with two wins and two draws, currently sits atop the County Championship standings with 70 points.
Having only secured a 28-day visa to the United Kingdom, O’Neill will enjoy a short holiday in mainland Europe with Victorian teammates Will Sutherland and Campbell Kellaway before returning home for the 2025/26 pre-season. And no doubt Nottinghamshire will sorely miss his services. “Fergie’s been outstanding, can’t talk too highly of him,” Nottinghamshire captain Haseeb Hameed said, adding he hopes O’Neill returns in future seasons.
“For a 24-year-old to come in for his first overseas stint and do what he’s done is outstanding, and the biggest thing I can say about him is that he became a leader in the group very quickly. “You just had to watch him field yesterday, let alone the 20-odd overs he bowled, to see he’s got a massive heart.” O’Neill, born in New Zealand and raised in Melbourne, worked as a tradie during his late teens before shifting focus towards cricket.
Since making his first-class debut in October 2022, he has taken 105 Sheffield Shield wickets at 20.60 – only South Australian quick Nathan McAndrew boasts more scalps during that period. Earlier this year, O’Neill was named the Sheffield Shield player of the season after snaring 38 wickets at 21.
07, while the previous summer he received the prestigious Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year award after claiming 40 scalps at 17.25. O’Neill earned a maiden Australia A call-up last year, taking 4-55 in the second innings against India A in Mackay, including the scalps of national representatives Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan.
The previous week, he knocked over Australian Test superstar Steve Smith in a Sheffield Shield contest at the MCG, named player of the match following Victoria’s triumph over New South Wales. “His numbers speak for themselves, he just continues to take wickets,” Siddle told cricket.com.
au in March. “He knows he’s got different areas to work on in different conditions and different wickets, but he’s able to consistently go out there and perform and tear teams apart. “We speak about pace a lot, but we also speak a lot about consistency and building pressure and he’s probably the best at that in Shield cricket.
“He might not have the pace, but he’s shown with the performances he’s put up and how consistent he’s been over the last couple of years that he can be a very handy asset in all conditions. “Hopefully he can keep rising the way he is and finding new ways to improve, and there’s definitely opportunities for him going forward.” O’Neill can swing the ball both directions while relentlessly challenging the forward defence, and although he doesn’t boast a high release point or frightening airspeed, his skillset undeniably suits English conditions.
It’s why he’s got half an eye on the 2027 Ashes campaign in the United Kingdom. “It’s very different, the Dukes ball. It’s always offering enough,” O’Neill told talkSPORT’s Following On podcast last week.
“When the clouds come, it feels like it can go around corners. “The stumps are definitely more in play here (in England), so it probably suits me as opposed to back home, where it’s a little bit harder to bowl fuller. “I’ve really enjoyed my time.
” Asked about the 2027 Ashes, O’Neill replied: “That’s obviously in the back of my mind.” The current strength of Australia’s pace bowling stocks will prevent O’Neill from achieving higher honours in the short term – aside from the world-class quartet of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland, fellow quicks Xavier Bartlett, Jhye Richardson and Lance Morris were offered national contracts earlier this month, while Sean Abbott, Brendon Doggett and Spencer Johnson have also been pressing for Test selection. Regardless, should O’Neill continue on his current trajectory, he appears destined for a baggy green.
“All you can really do is perform wherever you go, and I’ve done that,” O’Neill continued. “Sometimes it’s hard to fill a great man’s shoes, so whoever comes in and has got to replace Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood, Boland and the likes, you’re probably going to underwhelm from the start. “If that’s me, I’d like to think that I’d be well-equipped.
“That’s all I’m trying to do, play well and perform well and win wherever I go. If I do that, and it comes with higher hours, so be it.”.
