New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson has been ruled out of the T20 World Cup with a calf rupture. Adam Milne has taken his position in the 15-man squad, replacing the 30-year-old.
As to a New Zealand Cricket media statement, Ferguson noticed stiffness in his right calf during training Tuesday night with a subsequent MRI scan showed a grade two rupture which would take three to four weeks recuperation.
“Having this happen on the eve of the competition is a great shame for Lockie, and the entire squad is really hurting for him right now,” head coach Gary Stead stated.
“He’s a major part of our T20 side and has been in such fantastic form – so to lose him at this time is a shock. However, we are lucky to have a like for like substitute in the form of Adam Milne who has been with the group training for the previous two weeks.”
Ferguson appeared in the second of New Zealand’s pre-tournament warm-up games against England on October 20, recording stats of 1 for 19. It’s another physical blow for the speedy fast bowler, having been sidelined late last year with a partial stress fracture to the back.
Ferguson recently played eight games in Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL 2021 season in the UAE and got 13 wickets at an economy of 7.46. His successor in the team, Milne, too, was in the IPL with the Mumbai Indians and got three wickets from as many games in the UAE leg of the competition.
New Zealand begin their quest for a maiden T20 World Cup with a game against Pakistan on October 26 but Milne will not be ready to play until clearance of replacement from the ICC technical committee. New Zealand meet the other strong team in the group, India, on Sunday (October 31). (October 31).
