Cricket: Trent Boult’s back but NZ lose Lockie Ferguson

NZ are set to be boosted by the return of Trent Boult for the Boxing Day Test but they have lost Lockie Ferguson for series.

NZ paceman Trent Boult, left, was stuck on the sidelines for the Perth Test

New Zealand are set to be boosted by the return of Trent Boult for the Boxing Day Test.

However, they have lost Lockie Ferguson for rest of the Trans-Tasman Trophy series.

Ferguson will fly back to New Zealand on Tuesday with a calf injury, after his Test debut ended in disaster and a 296-run loss at the hands of Australia in Perth.

The right-armer had the potential to be the Black Caps’ X-factor with the ball but will now be sidelined for up to six weeks and in a race to face India in February.

Boult is expected to be fit to return from a rib injury as the tourists’ leading quick.

He was dearly missed in Perth, given how dangerous he could have been with the pink ball under lights on day one.

“Trent is going really well,” New Zealand coach Gary Stead said. “He was probably three or four or five days short of being ready for this Test match.

“It was a risk that we weren’t prepared to take given the length of the season and what is to come.”

New Zealand now face a mammoth task to bounce back from the first Test belting. They have won just one of their past 23 Tests in Australia, dating back to 1993, and must win in both Melbourne and Sydney to reclaim the trophy. Although they have shown recently an ability to bounce back.

Lockie Ferguson’s tour is over with a calf injury

Undefeated in their past seven series, they have recovered from heavy innings losses in the UAE and Sri Lanka in the past two years before recovering to level or win the series.

The next two wickets should also suit New Zealand more, given their batsmen struggled with the bounce at Optus Stadium.

They will play a Victoria XI in a two-day tour match in Melbourne, spread over Friday and Sunday as they ramp up preparations for Boxing Day.

“I think that (ability to bounce back) is one of the strengths of our teams,” Stead said.

“We don’t make knee-jerk reactions too much … we understand it is a game of cricket and you can’t win every game.

“Australia played very well against us. We know they are very hard to beat in these conditions. But we’ve also got an experienced squad who I think won’t panic.”

AAP