Lockie Ferguson Not in a Hurry to Return Ahead of India Series

New Zealand pace spearheads Lockie Ferguson is not expecting to be selected in New Zealand’s test squad on Monday which will take on in the two-match Test series against India. Although he has recovered from a calf injury, the injury had ruined his debut against Australia late last year.

Ferguson broke down after bowling only 11 overs in the first test in Perth and has been working hard since then on his way back to fitness for Auckland in domestic cricket. However, he hopes to play New Zealand’s domestic one-day final on Sunday and said that the limited-overs series against Australia in March can be his return series on the international front.

“Of course the goal is for me to get back as soon as possible, but there is so much cricket coming up this year,” he told Stuff Media in Auckland on Friday.

“We’ve got a lot of white-ball stuff and I head away to the IPL as well, so it’s important with a calf injury, where there’s a high percentage chance of re-injury, that we be conservative. Sunday’s my focus and then I’ll be looking to play some first-class cricket,” Lockie Ferguson shared.

Despite making his test debut last December, the pacer doesn’t consider as the first-choice pacer bowler. He always comes after the established and terrific trio of Trent Boult, Tim Southee, and Neil Wagner and then Matt Henry as well.

However, Trent Boult broke his hand in Australia but trained pretty well with the national side earlier this week in Mt. Maunganui before they registered a 3-0 sweep in the ODI series over India and he is expected to play the first test that starts on Feb. 21 in Wellington.

“It’s not an easy side to make, the New Zealand Test side,” Ferguson added.

“Not that it’s easy to make any of the sides, but they’ve been exceptional for so long, and especially the fast-bowling attack, that’s been very settled for a long time.”

“Since I started playing professional cricket, it has been my goal to play test cricket, because personally I feel that’s the biggest challenge,” he said.

“I am obviously super stoked to be playing one-dayers and T20s for New Zealand, I love every moment of it, but playing red-ball has been a big goal of mine.”

“On the day it wasn’t to be (in Perth), I only got through 11 overs, and it was really frustrating. But it’s one of those things. When you bowl quick, injuries can sometimes happen,” Lockie Ferguson concluded.