Redbacks batsman Callum Ferguson’s message to the Australian Test selectors

REDBACKS veteran Callum Ferguson has called on the Australian Test selectors to stick by their number six in the Ashes Series against England

TEST PUSH: Redback Callum Ferguson kept his name in the Australian Test conversation with an uneaten 182 against Victoria in the Sheffield Shield clash at the MCG. Picture: George Salpigtidis (AAP).

REDBACKS veteran Callum Ferguson has called on Australia’s Test selectors to stick by their number six in the Ashes series against England.

One of three South Australians in contention for the most talked about batting position in Australian cricket, along with Travis Head and Jake Lehmann, Ferguson has learnt the hard way about cruelly being given one opportunity and then ditched.

“I would suggest that whoever gets given the green light will make a really good go of it and hopefully they get a decent go at it,’’ said 32-year-old Ferguson, who was given a long-awaited, one-off Test against South Africa in Hobart a year ago.

“Something like four or five Tests would be nice, just to give a bit of surety that your head is not on the chopping block if you miss out.

“I think stability is really important so whoever it is I would love to see them get an extended run and really get a good go at it.’’

With Australia's top batting five spots seemingly locked away by David Warner, Matt Renshaw, Usman Khawaja, captain Steve Smith and Peter Handscomb, a host of contenders are fighting to bat at number six.

They include the three Redbacks, Victoria’s Glenn Maxwell, Western Australia’s Hilton Cartwright and Shaun and Mitchell Marsh and New South Wales’ Daniel Hughes and Moises Henriques.

Ferguson, who made an unbeaten 182 against the Bushrangers in his 100th Sheffield Shield match to keep his name in front of the selectors, says he has never seen the race so wide open for one batting spot.

“It is an interesting period,’’ he told FIVEaa. “I think we’re all used to a settled Australian line-up, we were blessed for such a long time, and for it to be so wide open leading into a Test series is something that is quite foreign.’’

Ferguson, who made just three and one in his solo Test, revealed he had been told by selectors that as a veteran player he needed to knock the door down with runs to earn a recall. After two rounds he leads all Shield runscorers with 222 at an average of 74.

“The selectors have spoken to me and a number of other senior players around State cricket and it’s really your 1000-run season that’s going to get you into that (Australian) batting line-up if you are aged 30-plus,’’ Ferguson said.

“I’m not expecting to be in calculations for this Test match but you never know, if you are putting runs on the board you give yourself a chance.’’