Ferguson suffered the injury during his Test debut against Australia and was sent to a hospital for precautionary measures.
Australia and New Zealand refreshed their Trans-Tasman rivalry in their first Test match in Perth. The day-night match is making use of a pink ball. Whatever the outcome will be, it will be counted towards the ICC World Test Championship. Currently, Australia is in second place on the tournament table with 176 points from seven matches while New Zealand is in third with 60 points from two matches.
Heading into the match, Australia didn’t change a single player in their lineup given that they beat Pakistan 2-0 at home. New Zealand, led by Kane Williamson, seemed to lack some firepower to their bowling lineup. They had Lockie Ferguson make his Test debut in this match. He had been waiting for a chance to play in Tests since the home series against England.
Ferguson had a not-so-fruitful debut, bowling just 11 overs for 47 runs. He was, nevertheless, able to get Joe Burns out with just nine runs and dismiss David Warner with just 43 runs with the help of Neil Wagner. Unfortunately for them, Ferguson would suffer a strain in his right calf during the second session. He was immediately taken off the field and sent for scans.
He wouldn’t return to play on the first day of the Test. Ferguson was brought into the team to replace an injured Trent Boult who still hasn’t recovered from a side strain he suffered during the England Test series. Ferguson could have also claimed his first Test wicket had Tom Latham not dropped Steve Smith in a second slip just before the break between innings.
If Ferguson’s injury is serious and he won’t be able to return, New Zealand will play the match with the duty of bowling falling to Tim Southee and Neil Wagner, together with medium-pace bowler Colin de Grandhomme and spinner Mitchell Santner.
New Zealand is currently facing Australia in a three-match Test series at home. They will then face India in five T20Is, immediately followed by three ODIs. To find out more about New Zealand’s upcoming matches, visit Betwala’s page.
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