Photo Credit: Instagram Picture of @lockieferguson
BLACKCAPS paceman Lockie Ferguson has been diagnosed with a partial stress fracture to his lumbar spine and will require four to six weeks of rest before returning to training.
The injury to the left-side of his back surfaced after the recent T20 series against the West Indies and subsequent scans and imaging confirmed the partial fracture.
Ferguson will not need surgery, but instead requires a period of rest and rehabilitation before considering any return to play later this summer.
BLACKCAPS coach Gary Stead said it was a blow to lose Ferguson, but backed him to come back.
“We’re all really feeling for Lockie,” he said.
“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.
“The pace and skill he’s been able to consistently produce has 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.”
Ferguson will likely miss all of the Auckland Aces Dream11 Super Smash campaign which runs from late December through to the final on February 14.
The BLACKCAPS end to the international home-season sees Australia arrive in late February for five T20 Internationals, before Bangladesh conclude the summer with three T20Is and three ODIs, the final game being played on March 28.
Name of Author: New Zealand Cricket
The New Zealand national cricket team, known as the Black Caps, made their Test debut in 1930 against England in Christchurch, becoming the fifth nation to play Test cricket. After waiting 26 years for their first Test win against the West Indies in 1956, they also played their first ODI in 1972–73 against Pakistan. New Zealand are the inaugural World Test Championship champions (2021) and have won the ICC Champions Trophy (2000). They have reached the Cricket World Cup final twice and the T20 World Cup final once.
