New Zealand dealt a double blow as the pace duo were knocked out of the T20I series against India

New Zealand suffered a double injury blow ahead of the sold-out fourth T20I against India, with Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry ruled out of the rest of the five-match series. The setbacks come as India already held an unassailable 3-0 lead ahead of Friday’s match at Eden Park in Auckland.

Ferguson suffered a slight tear in his right calf during the second T20I in Christchurch, while Henry suffered a similar right quadriceps injury. Ferguson is expected to need around another week to recover, with Henry facing one to two weeks on the sidelines, according to New Zealand Cricket.

Matt Fisher has been called up to replace Ferguson, while New Zealand will hope both injured pacers recover in time for the ODI series starting on November 4.

“We’re gutted from Lockie and Matt,” head coach Rob Walter said.

“Injuries are part and parcel of international cricket, but it doesn’t make it any easier when you have to miss games.”

Walter added that Henry had already been scheduled to sit out the remaining T20Is as part of workload management and expressed hope that the pacer would play a key role in the ODIs. Ferguson, meanwhile, was eager to play in front of a sold-out Eden Park crowd but is determined to make a comeback in the 50-over series.

HOW THE INDIA STICKERS PRINTED NEW ZEALAND

Injuries compound New Zealand’s woes after India chased targets of 226, 181 and 199 in the first three matches, winning by four wickets, four wickets and six wickets each.

Sanju Samson made 67 off 33 balls in the opener while Tilak Varma led India home in the second with an unbeaten 51 off 26 deliveries. Abhishek Sharma then produced an excellent innings series as he smashed 113 off just 38 balls as India chased down 199 in just 13.2 overs.

New Zealand bowlers struggled to stop India’s attack. Ferguson conceded 34 runs in three overs in the first T20I and 37 in three overs in the second, while Henry gave away 57 runs in 3.4 overs in the opener. Mitchell Santner was the rare bright spot, taking 4/21 in the second match.

Fisher is a direct replacement for Ferguson in the team. New Zealand also have Adam Milne, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Nathan Smith and Blair Tickner as pace. The final combination will depend on the team balance, with Henry already missing the remaining T20Is in his work schedule. Kyle Jamieson is expected to remain in Wellington for Canterbury’s Ford Trophy match before rejoining the national side for ODIs.

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