Injured Blackcaps quick Lockie Ferguson still hopes to return to cricket before the end of the summer.
Ferguson will be sidelined for the next four to six weeks with a partial stress fracture to his lumbar spine.
Although he doesn't require surgery, he will need a period of rest and rehabilitation before considering any return to play later this summer.
The injury to the left-side of his back surfaced after the recent Twenty20 series against the West Indies and subsequent scans and imaging confirmed the partial fracture.
But as reported by Newshub on Tuesday, the Blackcaps are quietly confident that they'll have the paceman back on deck at the back end of their international schedule.
Coach Gary Stead says it was a blow to lose Ferguson, but backs him to return.
"We're all really feeling for Lockie," he says.
"Injuries are certainly part of our sport, but to get something like this when you’re at the very top of your game is especially disappointing.
"Lockie has a great attitude and I know he’s up for the fight so he’ll get stuck into the rehab and we're still hopeful he may get back on the park at the back end of summer."
The Blackcaps end their international home season with a five-game Twenty20 series against Australia in late February, before Bangladesh visit for three T20s and three one-day internationals.
Join us for live updates of the first Twenty20 against Pakistan from 7pm Friday
