‘I wouldn’t be too starstruck’ – Fergus O’Neill on the prospect of an Ashes call-up

Fergus O’Neill (Source: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Victoria seamer Fergus O’Neill says he would not feel out of place in an Ashes Test, citing his familiarity with Trent Bridge as a reason for confidence. The 25-year-old has reached 200 first-class wickets at an average of 19.43 after another standout stint with Nottinghamshire.

O’Neill took 26 wickets at 16.38 across five County Championship matches in his latest spell, while also averaging 57.00 with the bat. His two county stints have now produced 47 wickets at 17.06 in nine matches combined, on top of a Sheffield Shield season where the right-arm seamer claimed 35 wickets at 18.80 for Victoria. The right-arm seamer was direct about where he stands on Test cricket.

“My home ground [in England] is a Test venue in Trent Bridge, so I feel like I wouldn’t be too starstruck by the occasion or by the ground and the conditions. So, yeah, if that opportunity arises, I think I’d be in a good position to put my best foot forward,” said O’Neill on SEN radio.

Fergus O’Neill on staying patient amid Australia’s established pace attack

Despite the growing attention on his name, O’Neill is measured about what it takes to break into a settled Australia attack. He is realistic about the timeline too.

“With the players you’ve got ahead of you, you can never whinge with what they’ve done and how they’re still cracking on now. You know it’s a very tough team to crack, but I think I’m doing the right things to be there or thereabouts for when they do retire and move on or if there’s injuries,” said O’Neill.

“So I think I’ve just got to keep putting my best foot forward. It’s about timing though, I suppose. I’ve got to keep doing that at the right time, and probably two, three years’ time, I think there might be some opportunities,” he added.

What happens next for Fergus O’Neill?

Victoria begin their One-Day Cup campaign against Queensland in Brisbane on September 19 before the Sheffield Shield opener on October 7, where they face South Australia in a rematch of last season’s final. O’Neill is also contracted with Nottinghamshire through 2027, putting him back at Trent Bridge in the months before the Ashes, which is set to begin in mid-June.

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