Star New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson has been ruled out for four to six weeks with a partial stress fracture to his lumbar spine, which he had suffered during the T20I series against West Indies. Though Ferguson won’t be needing surgery, he will undergo a period test and rehabilitation.
This comes as a huge blow for the Black Caps who were hoping to see a short cameo of the Auckland pacer in the upcoming three-match T20I series against Pakistan after completing the West Indies series with an impressive seven-wicket haul.
"We're all really feeling for Lockie. Injuries are certainly part of our sport, but to get something like this when you're at the very top of your game is especially disappointing,” said New Zealand head coach Gary Stead.
“The pace and skill he's been able to consistently produce have made him one of the very best white-ball bowlers in the world and a huge asset for the Blackcaps.
"Lockie has a great attitude and I know he's up for the fight so he'll get stuck into the rehab and we're still hopeful he may get back on the park at the back end of summer," the coach added.
Not only the New Zealand national team but Ferguson is now likely to miss the entire Super Smash season for Auckland, which is scheduled from late December to February 14.
Though Lockie Ferguson looked up and running for Kolkata in the Indian T20 League last month, where he returned with six wickets in five matches, he has had a couple of injury-plagued seasons of late.
His Test debut for New Zealand against Australia was marred by a calf problem as he was ruled out from the tour after just 11 overs in the first innings. Consequently, he missed Kiwi’s home series against India and most recently, the recently concluded Test series against West Indies.
Feature Image Courtesy: AFP/ Michael Bradley
