Callum Ferguson feels a winner regardless of World Cup or Ashes recalls with dream County deal
CALLUM Ferguson already feels a winner, regardless of whether he gets recalled for Australian World Cup or Ashes duties after a dream County deal.
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HAVING penned a coveted, multi-format 2019 County deal Callum Ferguson feels a winner even if World Cup or Ashes recalls elude the record breaking batsman.
Ferguson enters the domestic season after belting Worcestershire into Twenty20 finals day and the club’s highest score List A score, 192, on debut against Mark Cosgrove’s Leicestershire in May.
Ferguson made 390 T20 runs at a strike rate of 141 including an unbeaten ton (102) and 377 one-day runs at 94 for Worcester to back 780 first-class runs at 48.7 in 2017-18 for South Australia. Ferguson, 33, continues to demand the attention of national selectors entering next month’s tour of the United Arab Emirates against Pakistan followed by heavyweight series against India and England.
“To make runs in England has to be a bonus, got to help. Whether it is white or red ball stuff I would like to think the runs will count for something,” said Ferguson.
“Everyone in the Redbacks are focused on getting in a one-day or Test side, I am no different”.
Ferguson and partner Rhiannon Eglinton will wed next April before a busy northern summer schedule that could yet entail County and international commitments as Australia gets serious about its World Cup and Ashes defences.
“If I don’t manage to get myself on an overseas tour it is a nice place to be playing at the time of an Ashes series,” Ferguson noted.
Ferguson waited 14 years for a County break that arrived when South Australian skipper Travis Head was called up for one-day duty in England, Zimbabwe then Australia A’s tour of India.
“Mike Hussey, Simon Katich, Greg Blewett and Darren Lehmann talked about how great county cricket is for your game,” Ferguson told The Advertiser.
“I was really grateful that Worcester was able to give me an opportunity. I did feel like I wanted to repay them and great it went so well.
“It was nice to get off on the right foot, takes the pressure off, gets the locals on board. There is a lot expected of the overseas player.
“To be able to sign a deal for next year and play all three formats will be really exciting. It is great they have given me another opportunity to play in English conditions.”
Ferguson’s baggy green against South Africa in November 2016 just met strict County foreign qualification criteria for having played at least one Test over the past two years.
Ferguson’s unconquered, matchwinning 64 off 47 balls in Worcester’s quarter-final against close mate Michael Klinger’s Leicestershire on August 25 was the perfect season sign-off and icing on a return contract at the New Road.
“To be able to bat us through to finals day was quite special. I felt like I really wanted to get the job done on that one,” said Ferguson, who will miss the Rapids T20 finals assault on September 15 at Edgbaston to prepare for South Australia’s JLT Cup campaign.
“It was a great side to be batting in with talented stroke players like Moeen Ali and Joe Clarke.”
“It would have been great to be part of it. It would have been a bit of a squeeze to get back for it.”
Ferguson is relishing hitting the ground running for the Redbacks September 20 JLT Cup opener against New South Wales in Perth rather than shaking off a winter hibernation.
“To be playing the real stuff right up until the start of our summer is fantastic. Hopefully we can get off to a fast start,” he said.