New Zealand continue to be hit by injury setbacks with another fast bowler’s participation in the ongoing T20I series with India coming to a premature end. Right-arm pacer Lockie Ferguson complained of pain in his right-calf during the 2nd T20I in Christchurch and has now been ruled out of the entire series.
Ferguson didn’t feature in the third T20I in Wellington earlier this week that India won by six wickets to take an unassailable 3-0 lead. He’s the second New Zealand pacer to be ruled out after Matt Henry, who also suffered a fitness concern during the second match, experiencing pain in his right quadriceps.
Henry is expected to be fit for the five-match ODI series with India.
“We’re gutted for Lockie and Matt,” said New Zealand coach Rob Walter
in a statement. “Injuries are part and parcel of international cricket, but it doesn’t make it any easier when you have to miss games.”
Matt Fisher, who joined New Zealand’s squad as an injury cover in Wellington, has been named as Ferguson’s replacement for the remaining two matches.
“Fortunately for Matt (Henry), he was already going to sit out the rest of the T20Is with an eye to his big summer schedule, and we’re hopeful he’ll still play a key role in the ODIs,” Walter said.
“I know Lockie was fizzing to play in front of a sell-out home crowd at Eden Park tomorrow, but he’s determined to be back for the ODIs,” he added.
The fourth T20I will be played at Eden Park in Auckland on Friday (October 30).
Meanwhile, Fisher, who was with the New Zealand A squad for the ongoing three-match unofficial Test series with India A, has been replaced by pacer Brett Randell for the second match.
Fast bowler Kyle Jamieson too will not take part in the remainder of the T20I series as part of his workload management. He will be available to play for Canterbury in the second round of the Ford Trophy.
Jamieson will join the New Zealand ODI squad on Monday.
