Kiwi pacer Lockie Ferguson has been ruled out New Zealand’s upcoming series against Pakistan due to a partial stress fracture to his lumbar spine. He will on complete rest for four to six weeks before returning to training, New Zealand Cricket confirmed on Wednesday (December 16). The pacer coped up with the internal injury in the second T20I against West Indies. He thus has been ruled out from all the games against Pakistan and New Zealand’s domestic T20 championship as well.

Lockie Ferguson will be under a rest and retention period, however, will not require a surgery. He might be back during his team’s home summer with Bangladesh and Australia due to travel.

Gary Stead, New Zealand’s head coach, said, “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”.

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Lockie Ferguson Ruled Out of Pakistan Series

He further wished him a speedy recovery and hoped that he comes back to the team with full fitness.

“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.”

The 2019 World Cup was a breakthrough event for the pacer; he ended as the tournament’s second-highest wicket-taker with 21 poles at an average of just 19.47.

Lockie Ferguson was a part of the squad which made the finals and was a part of a spectacular game of cricket at the Home of Cricket, Lord’s. He had a good season for KKR in IPL 2020 taking six wickets from five games, including a fifer against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

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