Lockie locked in as Ferguson returns to Thunder

New Zealand speedster Lockie Ferguson is coming back to the Big Bash after signing with Sydney Thunder for KFC BBL|16.

Ferguson, who played six games for the club in the 2024-25 season, has committed to the Thunder for the full season including finals.

Having missed last summer's tournament, the Kiwi quick said he's thrilled to be back alongside the team he helped reach the BBL|14 final with.

"I was gutted not to make it there last year, but I'm really stoked to be back with the Thunder," Ferguson said in a statement.

"The crazy thing about these tournaments is that you don't know how it's going to go... but one thing I really noticed in my first year at the Thunder is how quickly the group came together. 

"(In) my chats with the team and staff so far, you can see a lot of care and when there's that kind of care for the playing group and their success, I think it bands the group together." 

Ferguson was first signed by the Thunder two years ago in the now scrapped overseas player draft. 

On his BBL debut, the paceman picked up 3-24 against Adelaide Strikers in Canberra before taking eight wickets throughout his first Big Bash campaign.

While the 35-year-old left mid-tournament to play for Desert Vipers in the ILT20, his performances helped the side reach the BBL finals where they would eventually fall to Hobart Hurricanes in the season decider.

The Thunder redrafted Ferguson for BBL|15 in June 2025, but he was ruled out of the competition when he picked up a calf strain playing for the Vipers last December.

General manager Trent Copeland said the right-armer's signature was integral to the club's list strategy, noting the team's shortcomings without him last season.

"We really missed Lockie last season," Copeland said. He played a key role in us being able to make it to the final in BBL|14, not just with the ball in hand but he is one of the great human beings. 

"Having him back... immediately shifts our bowling group to one that will be feared and puts us up there as a real title contender.  

"He is a world-class fast bowler who can take wickets in all phases and adds an incredible layer of calmness and insight for the whole bowling group. Lockie's said no to multiple competitions in our tournament window and over half of the other BBL clubs because of his desire to come back to the Thunder this year."

The newest edition to head coach Andrew Flintoff's squad returns to Western Sydney with over 220 games of experience across the global T20 circuit.

Having idolised the former England captain as a young man, Ferguson is looking forward to working with one of the most popular figures in world cricket.

"(It's) pretty epic to have someone of Freddie's calibre coaching the Thunder this year," Ferguson said.

"I've been a huge fan of him, he was an idol of mine growing up. From a culture point of view there's not much better than Freddie. I'm certainly looking forward to getting to pick his brain around bowling and performing at the top."

In this calendar year alone, Ferguson has taken part in the Indian Premier League for Punjab Kings, America's Major League Cricket competition for Washington Freedom, and most recently England's Hundred tournament for Welsh Fire.

He has represented the Black Caps in 110 matches across all three formats and sits fifth on the nation's all-time wicket-takers' list for men's T20 internationals with 76 scalps.

Ferguson joins fellow NZ teammates Mark Chapman, Tim Seifert and Finn Allen in BBL|16, having all signed casual contracts with New Zealand Cricket allowing them to play in the Big Bash.

Sydney Thunder have now locked in 11 of a maximum 18 players on their primary list for the upcoming season.

Sydney Thunder's BBL|16 squad (so far)

Contracted for BBL|16: Cameron Bancroft (BBL|17), Sam Billings (BBL|16), Lockie Ferguson (BBL|16), Matt Gilkes (BBL|17), Chris Green (BBL|16), Ryan Hadley (BBL|17), Sam Konstas (BBL|18), Aidan O'Connor (BBL|16), Daniel Sams (BBL|17), Tanveer Sangha (BBL|17), David Warner (BBL|16)

 

Uncontracted: Wes Agar, Charlie Anderson, Tom Andrews, Ravichandran Ashwin (India), Pat Cummins, Shadab Khan (Pakistan), Nic Maddinson, Nathan McAndrew, Blake Nikitaras, Reece Topley (England), David Willey (England)

 

Head coach: Andrew Flintoff