AUS v NZ 2019-20: Ferguson ruled out of the series, Boult could be fit for Boxing Day Test

It was Ferguson who had replaced the injured Boult for the first Test in Perth.

The injury on his right calf ensured pacer Lockie Ferguson could manage only 11 overs on his Test debut in Perth against Australia but there was further agony for the 28-year-old when the Kiwis confirmed that he won't be available for the next two Tests either and is flying back home with his replacement to be named in the coming days. 

Read Also: After Perth, injured Hazlewood also ruled out of Boxing Day Test 

In another update, coach Gary Stead informed that spearhead Trent Boult, who has been recovering from a muscle injury, is likely to be ready for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne next week. It was Boult whom Ferguson replaced in the line-up for the first Test; the senior pacer has been striving for recovery since picking up the injury against England last month. 

"Trent’s going really well, he was probably three or four days short of being ready for the first Test match (too)," Stead said. "That was a risk that we weren’t prepared to take given the length of the season and what was left to come."

There could be one more change in the line-up for the next game with opener Jeet Raval going through a career-threatening slump with the bat. He looked short of confidence and made a 0 & 1 in Black Caps' 296-run defeat. 

"These are some hard lessons for him(Jeet) and great experiences as well," skipper Kane Williamson said after the game. "In terms of looking forward, just having finished this game, it’s important we reflect on it and any selections will be based upon the surfaces and the squad that we have at the time."

(Inputs from Reuters)