Tim Nielsen says Redbacks can rebound with veteran batsman Callum Ferguson leading way

Callum Ferguson and Tom Cooper have been retained but South Australia is looking to the future as a young quartet accept contracts for the 2019-20 season.

South Australia’s Callum Ferguson raises his bat after reaching a half-century during day 4 of the Round 7 Sheffield Shield cricket match between South Australia and Tasmania at Adelaide Oval. Picture: AAP/David Mariuz.

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First-class casualties Callum Ferguson and Tom Cooper won’t be cut loose but South Australia is looking to the future as a young quartet accept 2019-20 contracts.

Former Test batsman Ferguson and veteran Cooper were dropped for the final two matches of SA’s last placed Sheffield Shield campaign but will retain full contracts when the 2019-20 state list is released on Tuesday.

Callum Ferguson of the Redbacks plays a shot during a frustrating Sheffield Shield season for the Redbacks. Picture: AAP Image/James Elsby

George Bailey, 36, will enter a 17th first class season for Tasmania and SA believes there are plenty of runs left in Ferguson, 34, and Cooper, 32. However, South Australian high performance manager Nielsen is demanding ‘consistency’ from his senior batsmen after averaging 24 and 34 respectively.

“We really do believe the likes of Ferg can play a lot better than they did at the end of last year. We are not throwing the baby out with the bathwater,” said Nielsen with Ferguson blazing an unbeaten one-day ton (103, 95 balls) for Worcestershire last week against Derbyshire.

“We see Coops as being a really important part of our one-day cricket. There will be pressure about how structure the (Shield) team when we have a full team available, Alex Carey might bat a bit higher.”

Having perused available talent around the nation Nielsen said there were no recruiting quick fixes.

“People use the footy model but the best players are Cricket Australia contracted and next level are usually entrenched, comfortable and being paid quite well,” said Nielsen.

Nielsen concedes SACA members expect a ‘happy medium’ between supplying Australian talent and pursuing silverware.

“While it is great producing Australian players we have challenged ourselves to be more competitive when they are not there. We went on a downward spiral after the Big Bash and it was hard to stop.

“We just had a funny year where everyone had a down spot at the same time.”

Nielsen believes rookie-listed batsmen Jacob Dickman and Henry Hunt will benefit from exposure to the Redbacks program. Hunt was the leading Future’s League run scorer last season with 737 runs at 46.06 including a double ton (208) for the ACT/NSW Country.

“He has had a couple of good years playing Sydney grade cricket and Futures League,” said Nielsen of Hunt.

“He is one who could potentially play straight up.”

Brad Davis was overlooked for a Redbacks contract. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

Sturt batsman Brad Davis, 29, made a gritty half-century against champion Victoria in his second game and SA’s last of the season but was overlooked for a Redbacks contract.

Australian paceman Kane Richardson won a World Cup ticket but no central deal which meant less salary room to accommodate Davis with 19 contracts available.

World Cup keeper-batsmen Carey, skipper Travis Head and leg-spinner Adam Zampa have Cricket Australia contracts.

“He was disappointed as you could imagine, The great thing for him is he is an incumbent, got 50 in the last game. There is the potential to be upgraded after three Sheffield Shield games anyway,” said Nielsen of Davis.

Prolific Glenelg opener Jake Winter declined a contract for personal reasons. Winter banked 1048 grade runs at 104.8 last season.

“Jake is prioritising his study and wellbeing,” Nielsen told The Advertiser

New Redback Tim Oakley steams in for Tea Tree Gully. Picture: AAP Image/Russell Millard.

Former Australian quicks Daniel Worrall, Chadd Sayers and Joe Mennie were all sidelined by injury last season and Nielsen said it was important to reinforce bowling depth.

Seamer Wes Agar returns to a full contract following two-years with Victoria. Having led the grade wicket tally last season, Tea Tree Gully’s Tim Oakley won promotion as the Redbacks invest in a paceman with ‘some zip’.

“We added some depth in a different way to our bowling. Wes is a bit taller, comes from a height,” said Nielsen of Adelaide Strikers paceman Agar.

Leg-spinner Lloyd Pope remains on a rookie deal.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA 2019-20 SQUAD

CA contracts: Alex Carey, Travis Head, Adam Zampa

Full contracts: Wes Agar, Tom Andrews, Tom Cooper, John Dalton, Callum Ferguson, David Grant, Jake Lehmann, Conor McInerney, Joe Mennie, Harry Nielsen, Patrick Page Jnr, Kane Richardson, Luke Robins, Alex Ross, Chadd Sayers, Cameron Valente, Jake Weatherald, Nick Winter, Daniel Worrall

Rookie contracts: Jacob Dickman, Henry Hunt, Spencer Johnson, Tim Oakley, Lloyd Pope, Ben Pengelley

Out: Kelvin Smith, Elliot Opie, Michael Cormack, Jake Winter (personal reasons).