Blackcaps paceman Neil Wagner is gutted for teammate Lockie Ferguson, after the debutant injured his calf on his very first day of test cricket.
Fast bowler Ferguson left the field during the middle session of the opening test against Australia at Perth's Optus Stadium on Thursday, as the home side progressed to 248/4 at stumps.
The 28-year-old had bowled with great ferocity and speed up until that point, but was then sent off for an MRI scan, after suffering a suspected strain in his right calf.
Ferguson may not be able to bowl for the rest of the match - a scenario that would severely dent New Zealand's victory hopes, especially with veteran Trent Boult (side strain) already absent.
"Gutting, ain't it," Wagner said. "It's pretty heartbreaking for him.
"I know he'll be devastated as well. We'll obviously get right behind him and, hopefully, it's not too bad.
"We haven't heard anything back yet. Hopefully, it's good or better news than what everyone is suspecting.
"He's a quality player, and we would have loved to see him bowl more and see what he could have done."
Ferguson finished the day with 0/47 off 11 overs and would have snared the prized scalp of Steve Smith, if Tom Latham held onto a tricky catch at second slip.
Temperatures of about 40 degrees are forecast for the next three days and Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne says Ferguson's potential absence could boost Australia's victory hopes.
"They do have an all-rounder in their side, so that does lighten the load a little, but it is a massive advantage [for us]," Labuschagne said.
"If we can really bat well tomorrow and keep them out there... with our world-class bowling attack, it will give them the upper hand."
Wagner provided the highlight of the opening day, when he snared an amazing one-handed catch low to the ground off his own bowling to remove dangerman David Warner for 43.
He said he normally got a bit of stick from teammates for not taking many catches.
"At first, I thought it as a bump ball and he'd hit it into the ground," Wagner said. "It wasn't until it got to me that I realised it could be out.
"It was one of those that went to hand and stuck."
Labushagne provided the foundation for Australia's innings, hitting an unbeaten 110 runs, as New Zealand targeted dangermen Warner and Steve Smith for early dimissal.
Armed with a plan to dry up Smith, they used their pet tactic of employing catchers behind the wicket on the legside for him.
He finally fell for it on 43 from 164 balls, when he pulled Wagner straight to Tim Southee at leg trap - just as he had in his last test against the Blackcaps.
Matthew Wade was then bowled, when he left a Tim Southee in-swinger that took off-stump, leaving Travis Head (20 not out) to survive a nervous last half hour.
Joe Burns was the first man out, trapped leg before wicket by Colin de Grandhomme on nine, although video replays showed the ball was missing down legside had he reviewed it.
AAP
