Quantcast

Ferguson returns home after hotel room isolation

The New Zealand quick says he took an extra-cautious approach after noticing mild illness during New Zealand's loss to Australia at the SCG

New Zealand quick Lockie Ferguson has returned home healthy after spending a day isolated in a Sydney hotel room with “mild cold symptoms”.

The 28-year-old became the second international cricketer tested for COVID-19 after reporting illness at the conclusion of New Zealand’s ODI against Australia at the SCG.

The remainder of the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series was later postponed, however Ferguson was forced to remain in Sydney awaiting test results as his teammates returned home.

“I was taken to get swabs done and talk to the doc, but fortunately all was good,” Ferguson said upon arrival in Auckland.

“We had pretty clear comms that we knew if we got back tonight it'd be all good (to avoid the 14-day isolation period introduced by the government).

“So when we got the negative test for the virus last night we just took it as it came then it was nice to come today.”


Image Id: B913957871594C4AABDB65F76EE390C3 Image Caption: Ferguson speaks to the media at Auckland Airport // Getty

Ferguson admitted it was an odd feeling playing in front of an empty SCG on Friday. At one point in the first innings he was forced to jump the fence and search for a ball Aaron Finch had struck for six.

The quick bowled nine overs and claimed two wickets as the visitors lost by 71 runs, before flagging mild flu-like symptoms with team doctors.

Wary of the worldwide panic surrounding the highly contagious coronavirus, Ferguson says he “over-exaggerated” his illness.

“I just had very mild cold symptoms, but the procedures were as they were and followed by the support staff,” he said.

You can get run down quite a bit playing cricket and travelling all the time.

“So (it’s) not too unusual for me.”



What is unusual is the cricketing landscape Ferguson and his peers now face. The quick has plans of linking up with his Auckland Aces teammate and resuming domestic duties, however is uncertain on what the near future will hold given the current climate.

In the past 48 hours, decisions have been made to postpone all remaining ODI and T20 fixtures between Australia and New Zealand, while the Test series between Sri Lanka and England has been cancelled, Australia’s women will no longer tour South Africa, and the final round of the Sheffield Shield will not go ahead.  

I think everyone in every industry is feeling it a little bit,” Ferguson said.

“Certainly we want to play cricket but under these circumstances we are following the directions.”