Fast Ferling eliminating errors

It would usually be cause for concern when a bowler concedes 75 per cent of their runs in wides, but not for Australia quick Holly Ferling in yesterday’s stunning start to the one-day international series in Dambulla.

Ferling claimed 3-4 in four overs during a whirlwind opening spell that saw Sri Lanka collapse to be 5-3 in the fifth over to set up a four-wicket win for the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars.

Three of those runs off the Queenslander’s bowling came from wides as ‘extras’ ended up being the home side’s second top-scorer with 16, but the tall fast bowler unsettled the under-siege top order by releasing the ball from a height that is rarely seen by the Sri Lankan batters.

While determined to continue working on her consistency with the new ball, Ferling also believes the need for speed outweighs the risk of handing over the occasional freebie to the opposition.

"I just need to focus on hitting the deck hard," Ferling told cricket.com.au after a morning climb up Sigiriya near Dambulla.

"My asset is my pace and my bounce. Regardless of what wicket I’m on, I’m going to get more pace and bounce than the other bowlers, so as long as I stick to my guns and make sure I’m doing that then I’ve still got my weapon.

"I’m going to have a few error balls here and there. It’s something I have been working on and I was a little bit annoyed that my three for four included three wides.

"As I got stronger over the off-season, my errors have actually been quite limited.

"It’s something I’m looking to improve on in the next few years, but I think my job is to bowl fast and intimidate." 

Importantly, Ferling’s plan of attack also has the backing from two vital members of the coaching staff.

"It’s something that Motty (coach Matthew Mott) and Joe Dawes (bowling coach) have spoken about, is that I just need to go out there and bowl fast," Ferling said.

"Being a fast bowler I may get hit for more runs than some of the others.

"My job isn’t to tie up an end, it’s to really try and attack the batsmen.

"Whether the wickets fall at my end or the other end, just make sure every ball that every ball they’re facing they’re not sure where it’s going." 

The demolition job with the new ball was a welcome sign for Australia following a World Twenty20 campaign earlier this year in which they failed to take a wicket in the Power Play in a majority of their matches.

Sri Lanka were ultimately unable to recover from the morning capitulation, with the tourists gaining the mental edge before the series enters the ICC Championship phase.

"To have five wickets in the first five overs was pretty unbelievable,” Ferling said.

"I was happy to be bowling in tandem with Megan Schutt. We tend to always bowl well together, so hopefully it’s something we continue throughout the series.”

With the Southern Stars looking to manage a talented bowling attack throughout the tight schedule on the island nation, coach Mott will find it difficult to take the new ball out of the hands of speedsters Schutt and Ferling.

Sunday’s performance, where Schutt started the carnage to take 2-5, was the first time the pair had opened the bowling together and Ferling hopes it won’t be the last.

"'Shooter' being a massive in-swinger and I tend to swing it out every now and again or it stays straight,” the 20-year-old said of how the two complement each other.

"We do work well together. Going back a few years, my first series was one of her first series at the one-day World Cup in India.

"It’s been fantastic to be along the journey with her and to open up yesterday with her was pretty awesome."

Squads

Australia: Meg Lanning (captain), Alex Blackwell (vice-captain), Kristen Beams, Nicole Bolton, Rene Farrell, Holly Ferling, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Beth Mooney, Erin Osborne, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani.

Sri Lanka: Chamari Atapattu (c), Prasadini Weerakkody (vc), Dilani Manodara, Nipuni Hansika, Chamari Polgampola, Eshani Lokusuriyage, Udeshika Prabodhani, Inoka Ranaweera, Sugandika Kumari, Achini Kulasooriya, Inoshi Fernando, Imalka Mendis, Ama Kanchana, Harshitha Madhavi.

Fixtures

Second ODI*: Rangiri Dambulla Stadium, 20 September at 2:20pm AEST

Third ODI*: R. Premadasa Stadium, 23 September at 2:20pm AEST

Fourth ODI*: R. Premadasa Stadium, 25 September at 2:20pm AEST

T20: SSC Ground, 27 September at 6:30pm AEST

*ICC Championship matches

You can follow regular updates from Australia’s tour match, four ODIs and T20 in Sri Lanka at @SouthernStars on Twitter.