Lockie Ferguson has been ruled out of the upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka with a calf injury.
Adam Milne has been called up to replace Ferguson in the squad. Ferguson sustained the injury while orchestrating New Zealand’s victory in the second T20I of the just-concluded series that ended 1-1. The 33-year-old had to hobble off the field in discomfort after his second over, but he had already made his mark in those 12 deliveries by claiming a hat-trick that helped the visitors claim a five-run win.
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He will now return home for further scans which will determine the extent of his injury and the rehabilitation time required.
“We’re gutted for Lockie,” head coach Gary Stead said. “He showed in the space of just two overs what an asset he is with the ball and he’s also brought a lot of leadership to this group, so he’ll be a big miss heading into an important ODI series for us.
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“To be ruled out so early in a tour is always tough to take, but we’re hopeful his recovery will be short and he’ll be back out on the field in no time. Adam is a like-for-like replacement who brings genuine pace and plenty of international experience, so we’re looking forward to welcoming him into the group.”
The first match of the ODI series will be played in Dambulla on Wednesday (November 13).
