Lockie Ferguson complains of sore throat, put under isolation
New Zealand's fast bowler Lockie Ferguson has been placed under isolation after he complained of a sore throat at the end of the first ODI against Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday. Ferguson has been kept in isolation at the team hotel for the next 24 hours after the match, which was played behind closed doors. Here are further details.
'Ferguson has been placed in isolation at the team hotel'
"In accordance with recommended health protocols, Lockie Ferguson has been placed in isolation at the team hotel for the next 24hrs after reporting a sore throat at the end of the first ODI," a New Zealand Cricket spokesman said. "Once the Test results are received and diagnosed, his return to the team can be determined," he added.
Ferguson didn't have the best of return post injury
Ferguson had injured his calf on the opening day of the first Test against Australia in December 2019. The fast bowler went on to miss the series and was also absent from the entire series against India at home. However, he recovered and made a return in the ODIs against the Aussies. He has picked up 69 career ODI scalps in 47 ODIs.
How did the first ODI pan out?
Australia, who came into the series after losing five successive ODIs, didn't manage to have a great day with the bat. They posted 258/7 after openers David Warner and Aaron Finch scored respective fifties. Marnus Labuschagne was another half-centurion. For NZ, Ish Sodhi claimed three scalps. In reply, NZ faltered with the bat and folded for just 187 to lose by 71 runs.
Prior to the ODIs, Kane Richardson was tested for coronavirus
Prior to the ODI series, Aussie pacer Kane Richardson was quarantined and tested for the novel coronavirus. Richardson, who returned from South Africa with the ODI squad this week, faced a similar issue like Ferguson and was isolated after developing a sore throat. Cricket Australia followed government protocols and kept Kane away from rest of the squad.
Coronavirus has impacted both the IPL and SL-England series
Coronavirus has caused a worldwide catastrophe and all sport in the world has been impacted severely. This led to the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to get postponed. IPL 2020 was set to start on March 29 but has now been scheduled to begin on April 15. Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka-England Test series was also called off.
