Veteran Callum Ferguson left out of Redbacks Shield opener
The SA Redbacks have sent a strong message, overlooking veteran Callum Ferguson from the Sheffield Shield squad for their season opener against Victoria.
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Star South Australian batsman Callum Ferguson is a surprise omission from the Redbacks’ squad to play its Sheffield Shield opener against Victoria next week.
The 34-year-old veteran of 137 first-class matches, who was shock axing for the second last game of last season, has been overlooked for Canberra recruit Henry Hunt.
Opening batsman Hunt is in line to make his SA debut, along with fast bowler Wes Agar, who returned to the Redbacks this year after a stint with Victoria.
Hunt, 22, was recruited by the Redbacks this season as a rookie-list player after a standout Futures League campaign with ACT/NSW Country, where he made 737 runs at an average of 46.06 and a highest score of 208.
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The right-hander, who is playing at Kensington, also made another four half-centuries in the second XI competition to be the competition’s leading runscorer.
“We recruited Henry as an opening batter who has dominated in the second XI competition so we are excited to see what he can do in first-class cricket,” Redbacks coach Jamie Siddons said.
“Wes has looked quite impressive in the pre-season and he adds pace and bounce to our attack, so we are pumped to have him in his first Shield team.”
SA will be without key fast-medium bowlers Chadd Sayers (back) and Joe Mennie (hamstring) because of injuries.
Daniel Worrall is back bowling from a back injury and could return to competitive cricket in mid-November.
The match will be played at Melbourne’s Junction Oval, starting on Thursday.
SA SQUAD: Travis Head (c), Wes Agar, Tom Andrews, Alex Carey, Tom Cooper, Henry Hunt, Jake Lehmann, Kane Richardson, Luke Robins, Jake Weatherald, Nick Winter,
Adam Zampa.