Lockie Ferguson will return to New Zealand after sustaining a calf injury during New Zealand’s series-leveling T20I victory over Sri Lanka in Dambulla. The 33-year-old fast bowler, who recently returned from a right hamstring injury, will miss the ODI leg of the tour that starts on November 13. Ferguson was crucial in New Zealand’s comeback, securing a hat-trick in the T20I to help defend a low total of 108 and earn the Player-of-the-Match award. However, he felt discomfort while bowling his second over, left the field, and was then ruled out for the remainder of the series.
New Zealand Cricket announced that Ferguson will undergo scans upon his return home to assess the severity of his injury. New Zealand called up Adam Milne as his replacement, and he will join the squad in Dambulla on Tuesday. Head coach Gary Stead expressed disappointment for Ferguson, highlighting his influence both as a bowler and a leader. “He showed in just two overs what an asset he is,” Stead said, adding that Ferguson’s absence is a setback for New Zealand’s upcoming ODI series. He remains optimistic about Ferguson’s quick recovery.
Milne, a like-for-like replacement, brings valuable pace and experience with 49 ODIs and 53 T20Is. He will join New Zealand’s seam attack alongside Jacob Duffy and Nathan Smith, with additional support from allrounders Zakary Foulkes and Josh Clarkson. The team faces a challenging series with a largely inexperienced bowling lineup, especially after a long subcontinental tour that began with a rain-affected Test against Afghanistan, a 0-2 Test loss to Sri Lanka, and a recent 3-0 series win against India.
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