Ferguson out of Caps with fracture to back
Injury doesn’t need surgery but means months on sideline
Black Caps pace bowler Lockie Ferguson is facing months on the sideline after suffering a back injury. The Black Caps confirmed Ferguson was 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 confirmed the partial fracture.
The 29-year-old will not need surgery but will require a period of rest and rehabilitation before considering any return to play later this summer.
Black Caps coach Gary Stead said the injury could’ve been worse and backed Ferguson to return.
“What that essentially means is there is a crack there, but in terms of seriousness and how it looks it could be a lot worse than that,” Stead said. “It’s not a complete crack so it is only partial, which is a good sign.
“In terms of the rehab, it’s too early to know just yet how long it will be looking for a return to play but we are still hopeful there is a chance for him to be playing still by the end of our season. If things go well then there is that chance.”
Stead said it was a “huge loss” for the Black Caps going into a busy summer period.
“The impact he has had in all matches he has played in New Zealand — his pace, his speed, his accuracy — is something that really adds to our bowling group.
“We’re really sad this has happened to him and feeling for him because it’s never easy to go through something like this.
“The good thing in this case is it has been reviewed by two surgeons and both said there is no need for surgery, that’s a really good thing.”
Ferguson has played one test, 11 T20 internationals and 37 ODIs, and was a key figure in the Black Caps’ run to the Cricket World Cup final last year.
He will likely miss all of the Auckland Aces’ Super Smash domestic T20 campaign, which runs from late December through to the final on February 14.
The Black Caps take on Pakistan in three T20s and two tests before facing Australia in five T20s in late February, followed by three T20s and three ODIs against Bangladesh.