Photo Credit: Melbourne Renegades
South Australian legend Callum Ferguson will call time on his first-class career after Sunday’s Marsh Sheffield Shield match against Queensland.
Ferguson, 35, has spent 16 years at the top level, and utilised those seasons building a reputation as South Australia’s dependable No. 3 batsman.
With a total of 8210 runs and 19 centuries, Ferguson will go down in history as one of SA’s finest and most fluent stroke makers.
He made his first-class debut as a fresh-faced 19-year-old in the first match of the 2004-5 season, a 118-run win against Victoria at Adelaide Oval.
He went on to play every game that season, finishing with an impressive 733 runs and two centuries.
The right-hander’s highest Shield score of 213 came in 2015 in a crushing 302-run win against Tasmania in Hobart.
Now approaching his 36th birthday, Ferguson feels that the time is right to call time on a distinguished Sheffield Shield career.
“I’d like to thank my family, my parents Pauline and Jim, and my wife Rhiannon who have supported me through the journey,” he said.
“I also have great gratitude for all my team-mates, coaches, SACA Members and fans who have made my time in the baggy red most enjoyable, and I have always been proud to play for this great State.
“I wish nothing but the best for the team which I believe has the talent and drive to take us to a Shield in the years to come. I’m looking forward to playing in the Marsh Cup later in the season and continuing to help mentor our young exciting players.”
Ferguson’s performances through the years earned him a Test call-up at in the second match of the 2016-17 summer, when he officially became an Australian Test cricketer with baggy green No. 445.
Prior to his debut, he had also represented Australia in the limited-overs formats of the game.
Ferguson won the Neil Dansie Medal awarded to the most outstanding South Australian male cricketer across all forms of the game in 2014-15, and the Lord Hampden Trophy twice in 2013-14 and 14-15.
Redbacks Chair of Selectors James Pyke said:
“Callum has been an integral part of the South Australian system for many years and he should be extremely proud of all that he has done for cricket in this State.
“His performances on the ground have been of the highest calibre and most importantly he has been a team member of great character and strength. His leadership has been excellent, and we hope Callum’s impact will be reflected in a new era of players in the future.
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“We wish Callum the best and look forward to watching him guide our younger players and to help them build an established career just as he has done.”
Sunday’s match and Ferguson’s final game in the whites, will begin at 10:30am at ACH Group Stadium in Glenelg.
