Fitter, faster Ferling set for Stars

Spending 12 months on the sidelines of international cricket has been frustrating for Holly Ferling, but the 19-year-old quick believes she is stronger – mentally and physically – for the experience.

The Commonwealth Bank Southern Star missed the home series against Pakistan last August due to a stress fracture in her lower back, while her recovery from the injury also meant she missed out on selection for the November series against the West Indies.

“It was a bit of a tough year last year,” Ferling told cricket.com.au.

“I guess the timing of the injury was good in some ways but not in others. I ended up playing most of the state season with Queensland but the timing meant I missed the international tours.

“I’ve been itching to pull on the Australia jersey ever since.”

Image Id: ~/media/B27A54A4790248A4B8C382F69DCBD149Ferling appeals for a wicket during the 2014-15 season // Getty Images

Now, with a full domestic season and international pre-season under her belt, Ferling is fit and firing for the women’s Ashes in July.

“This is probably first pre-season in a couple of years where I’ve had the chance to train properly and I haven’t just been sitting there doing rehab exercises,” she said.

“Last year made me tougher and stronger, also ‘muscle stronger’ as well.

“Hopefully it makes me a little quicker. The (injury) is probably one of those things that may come up again in the future but it’s about staying on top of my bowling load.”

Ferling has earned plenty of accolades in her quick rise up the ranks of Australian cricket.

The bowler was added to Queensland Fire’s rookie list at the age of 14 and earned her first call-up to the Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars in early 2012.

An outstanding debut domestic season was enough for Ferling to be named in the Women’s National Cricket League Team of the Year, before she attracted international attention aged just 17 after starring for the Southern Stars during the ICC Women’s World Cup in India in 2013.

Ferling crashes into the stumps during the 2013-14 Ashes

Now, with the Ashes looming, Ferling could be an even more frightening prospect for England’s batters after modifying her run-up during the off-season.

“It was something we identified at the end of last year,” she said.

“I wasn’t too bad in terms of fitness, but after a couple of overs I found I was fatiguing quite quickly and when we got down to looking at my run-up frame-by-frame, we found I had a bit of a hop, skip and jump at the beginning which was using too much energy, so I was losing energy at the crease and therefore losing pace.”

After working with specialist bowling coaches Craig McDermott and Troy Cooley, Ferling said her new approach should make her more economical in her energy expenditure.

“I had a couple of sessions where it was feeling a bit gumby and a bit uncoordinated but it’s all come together finally.

“It’s just something to make it a little smoother and more rhythmical.”

Image Id: ~/media/B8815DB8253541949A44C29B895CAB15Ferling is looking forward to her third Ashes campaign // Getty Images

With the Southern Stars Ashes campaign set to begin on July 21, Ferling has also been keeping a close eye on the competition, particularly on England seamer Kate Cross who has been dominating in a men’s first class competition in Lancashire.

It’s something Ferling can relate to, having taken a hat-trick with her first three balls in men’s cricket in Queensland as a 14-year-old.

“It’s really exciting to see, I played a fair bit of men’s cricket growing up so it’s fantastic to see her doing so well over there,” Ferling said.

“All of our batters will be keen to make sure they get on top of her early.”

Part of the Southern Stars squads which lost the last two series against England and with a World Cup and World Twenty20 title under her belt, Ferling said an Ashes victory was the one thing she was now longing for.

“It would be huge to win. It’s something I haven’t experienced yet,” she added.

“The squad we’ve got at the moment is so strong, I have no doubt we’ll be very competitive.”