Experienced pacer Lockie Ferguson has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy due to a hamstring injury, with Kyle Jamieson named as his replacement.
Concerns over Ferguson’s fitness have turned into reality. The New Zealand fast bowler sustained a hamstring injury earlier this month while playing in the ILT20 league in the UAE. Leading Desert Vipers in the first qualifier against Dubai Capitals, he was forced to leave the field before completing his quota of overs.
Ferguson missed his team’s last two matches in the tournament and was left out of New Zealand’s squad for the tri-series in Pakistan. He attempted a fitness test by bowling three overs in a warm-up match against Afghanistan on Sunday, but it wasn’t enough—leading to his withdrawal from the global tournament.
Having played 65 ODIs, Ferguson was a key member of the New Zealand squad in the last two World Cups and was expected to play a crucial role in the upcoming Champions Trophy. However, he now joins Ben Sears as the second Kiwi pacer to be ruled out before the tournament even begins.
New Zealand’s pace attack for the Champions Trophy now features only one experienced bowler—Matt Henry. The rest of the group, including Will O’Rourke, Jacob Duffy, Nathan Smith, and Kyle Jamieson, have all played fewer than 15 ODIs.
Jamieson, 30, has struggled with a persistent back injury and is returning to the national squad after a year-long absence. His last international appearance was in a Test match against South Africa in February 2023, while his most recent ODI was against Bangladesh in the same year.
After a 10-month layoff, Jamieson made his comeback in the Super Smash T20 competition, where he impressed with his performances. Playing for runners-up Canterbury, he took 14 wickets in 12 innings while maintaining an economy rate of 5.95.
New Zealand’s preparation for the Champions Trophy has been solid, as they recently won the tri-series title. They will now aim to carry that momentum into the global event, starting with their opening match against hosts Pakistan on Wednesday.
In the group stage, New Zealand will also face Bangladesh and India. They take on Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 24, followed by a clash against India in Dubai on March 2.
