Victorian captain Will Sutherland says fast bowler Fergus O’Neill could deliver in India Test series

The depth of Australia’s pace-bowling stocks could be tested against India, and a 23-year-old could bolt into calculations.

Victorian captain Will Sutherland has backed Fergus O’Neill to make the jump to Test level if injuries force Australia to call up reserve quicks against India this summer.

Veteran quick Scott Boland will be first in should any of Australia’s “big three” quicks miss a game early in the Border-Gavaskar series, but injury concerns to other fringe bowlers could leave an opportunity for an uncapped player.

Australian chief selector George Bailey said last week it was unlikely Michael Neser (hamstring strain) would recover in time to be considered for the series, while nationally contracted trio Xavier Bartlett, Lance Morris and Jhye Richardson are all yet to play a first-class match this season as they are carefully managed back to full fitness.

The three quicks could all mount Sheffield Shield comebacks in the round beginning next weekend, but few match-hardened options currently exist to the selectors.

Fergus O’Neill has 58 wickets at 17.41 in first-class cricket since the start of last season, along with a handy record with the bat. Picture: Mark Brake / Getty Images

South Australian quick Nathan McAndrew has taken the most wickets in Australian first-class cricket since the start of the 2023-24 season. Picture: Mark Brake / Getty Images

Sutherland said O’Neill, 23, was consciously making a case to the panel by working on his pace and short ball after a stellar start to his first-class career.

Since the beginning of last summer, O’Neill has taken 58 wickets at 17.41 in 13 games for Victoria and Australia A, with only South Australian quick Nathan McAndrew (64) and WA spinner Corey Rocchiccioli (63) claiming more over the period.

“Obviously, (Boland) is probably next in, but (O’Neill) seems to keep doing well,” Sutherland said.

“His pace is probably the main question, but he’s been bowling a little bit quicker, and trying to use his bouncer here and there to show the selectors that he can do it.

“Maybe a wicket that does a little bit more, if an opportunity pops up, I reckon he’d do really well.”

Sutherland, along with Redbacks quick Jordan Buckingham, suffered a side strain this month and has been unable to advance his own red-ball claims.

He said he would likely miss the final two Shield games before the Big Bash commences, but was “on track” to play in the Melbourne Renegades’ opener.

New full-time Melbourne Renegades captain Will Sutherland is hopeful of returning from a side strain in time for their BBL opener against the Sydney Sixers on December 16. Picture: Kelly Barnes / Getty Images

Sutherland was officially appointed captain on Tuesday after stepping in for departed skipper Nic Maddinson when he was omitted last season.

“(The injury was) quite frustrating, I was in that ODI squad for Perth and Adelaide, so it would’ve been nice to be around that group, but everyone tells me it’s part of being a fast bowler – everyone does their side at some point,” Sutherland said.

“There’s a couple of Big Bash practice games, I’ll try bowl in one of those, and that should be enough hopefully.”

Sutherland had been keeping in touch with the Renegades’ three new overseas players: NZ keeper Tim Seifert and English duo Jacob Bethell and Laurie Evans.

“I chatted to Laurie a little bit – he’s mainly worried about what sort of golf courses we can get on over the Big Bash period,” he said.

“But they’re all ripping guys, and we’re really excited to get them over here.”

Originally published as Victorian captain Will Sutherland says fast bowler Fergus O’Neill could deliver in India Test series