Redbacks boss Jamie Siddons says Callum Ferguson could become Australia’s Mr Fixit if recalled for national duty
JAMIE Siddons says Callum Ferguson is in the form of his life and can follow the example of Mike Hussey and become Australia’s next Mr Fixit.
JAMIE Siddons has compelled national selectors to embrace their “Mike Hussey” solution by recalling run-machine Callum Ferguson to shore up Australia’s top-order entering three showpiece series.
The Redbacks coach engaged Justin Langer’s hierarchy to determine what prolific Ferguson, 33, must further do to earn selection entering Test series against India and England spliced by the 2019 World Cup.
“If they are looking for another Mike Hussey — that any coach would love to have — then Callum Ferguson is it,” said Siddons of Ferguson, with nine Sheffield Shield tons over the past five years.
“He is producing across all formats and has the game to be aggressive when needed, which is like a Michael Bevan or Mike Hussey.
“You can trust that he has the skills to deal with all sorts of bowlers and has done it for a number of years.
“He is in the form of his life, at his best right now.”
Ferguson’s experience and ability against spin could have been a boon for a unit that relied on an Usman Khawaja rescue mission to draw with Pakistan in Dubai. Australia looked vulnerable with Shaun and Mitch Marsh at No. 3 and No. 4, while debutant No. 6 Marnus Labuschagne also struggled.
Ferguson has averaged 50 every season since 2013 except 2016-17, when he returned to Sheffield Shield cricket devastated at his axing after one Test against South Africa in Hobart.
Only George Bailey (7698) has more Shield runs than Ferguson (7351) since the South Australian debuted in 2004-05 in a 107-match run interrupted by two knee reconstructions.
Ferguson knows that only a titanic run spree will help sway selectors.
“He has been unbelievable to be honest,” said Siddons of Ferguson, who followed 780 Shield runs at 48 last year with dual 2018 JLT Cup tons for the Redbacks. “He is realistic, just churn out the runs, do his bit for the team. I don’t think they are ignoring the older players. It is not out of the question they won’t go back to him, but obviously has to do a lot more than most to get picked.”
Rebuilding Australia will require hard heads like Ferguson starting with next month’s one-day series against South Africa then India Test series.
Hussey was Australia’s Mr Fixit across all forms after his 2005 Test debut aged 30. Adam Voges became the oldest man at 35 to score a ton on Test debut in 2015 against the West Indies. Langer — as Western Australian coach — had pushed Voges’ case for a baggy green and the batsman retired with an extraordinary average of 61 after 20 Tests.
“He is a No. 3 or No. 4, would be a solid contributor and find that quite comfortable, would outperform most,” Siddons said.
Five one-day tons and average of 50.2 since 2014 underpin “Ferg’s” career domestic average of 40 over 103 matches.
“He would be a perfect person for the one-day World Cup campaign,’ said Siddons, with Ferguson posting a one-day average of 94 for County side Worcestershire this season. Siddons bristles at outdated stereotypes of cheap runs in Adelaide given it is the spiciest of strips across the nation.
“Certainly it is a tough batting wicket so you have to work hard,” noted Siddons.
Ferguson will carry the run-scoring burden with Jake Weatherald and skipper Jake Lehmann against New South Wales in the Shield season opener starting Tuesday in Adelaide.
Test No. 5 Travis Head, keeper Alex Carey and spinner Adam Zampa are on internationalduty in the Middle East.
“It is exciting, 12 months of opportunities coming for some good cricketers,” said Siddons.
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