Black Caps bolster squad after Ferguson injury

Uncapped paceman Kyle Jamieson was drafted into the New Zealand Test squad Tuesday after an injury sidelined Lockie Ferguson for the rest of the Test series against Australia. The Black Caps had high hopes that Ferguson's lightning pace would make an impression on his Test debut in Perth, but he pulled up with a calf strain on an opening day as his side slumped to a 296-run loss.

Coach Gary Stead said it was a bitter blow for Ferguson, who will be out for four to six weeks. "We're all absolutely gutted for Lockie," he said.

"He'd worked really hard to earn his Test debut and to have it cruelly halted by injury was truly unlucky." Veteran New Zealand seamer Trent Boult, who missed the opening Test with a side strain, is expected to replace Ferguson for the second match starting in Melbourne on December 26. But Stead said calling Jamieson into the Black Caps' environment would be a valuable experience for the 24-year-old, who has taken 72 first-class wickets at an average of 27.93.

He said the lanky quick, who has not represented New Zealand in any format at the senior level, was making encouraging progress. "Standing at over two meters tall he obviously gets good bounce and brings something different to our other pace bowlers," Stead said.