Fluent Ferguson top of spin class

While the immediate focus for the Australian cricket team is continuing their dominance on home soil during the international summer, one eye will be on a far greater challenge at season’s end in the subcontinent.

Following six Tests on home soil (three each against South Africa and Pakistan) this summer Australia travel to India where they have not won a Test match, let alone a series, since 2004.

Australia’s struggles against spin were brutally exposed this winter when Rangana Herath and his clutter of spinners spun a web around the tourists in a 3-0 series whitewash in Sri Lanka.

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Steve Smith’s men failed to adapt on the turning tracks of the island nation, the same wickets the Australians can expect to encounter on neighbouring nation India in February and March next year.

In the wake of the heavy defeat in Sri Lanka the composition of Australia’s top order for the India Test tour is up in the air, but former Victoria wicketkeeper and South Australia coach Darren Berry believes Redbacks batsman Callum Ferguson would succeed in the subcontinent if given the chance. 

“He (Ferguson) is another one who I think we need to keep a close eye on this summer with the Indian tour next year for the Australian team,” Berry said on Wide World of Sports.

“If they want players that can play spin I can assure you this bloke can.

“He's a very good player of spin bowling and if we're looking at selection … horses for courses, if Ferguson can put together a good Shield season he'd be the ideal player for India.”

Ferguson has played 30 one-day internationals for Australia – the last of those coming in 2011 – but his career in the green and gold has been truncated with a series of serious knee injuries. 

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But the stand-in Redbacks skipper looked to be back to his best on Wednesday when he compiled a classy unbeaten 73 to steer his side home to a bonus point win over the star-studded NSW Blues.

The 31-year-old handled the speed and spin of the Blues attack with equal comfort, particularly Test spinner Nathan Lyon, whom he scored 17 runs off the 10 balls he faced without conceding a dot ball.

With a hunger for runs and health on his side, Ferguson says he’s “desperate” to represent Australia at Test level and India might just be the place he achieves it.

“To be honest, the Baggy Green is always in the back of every South Australian Redback’s mind because Jamie (Siddons, Redbacks coach) puts it up on the big screen every time we go to a team meeting,” Ferguson said.

“It certainly something I’m desperate to get to.

“If it was that tour (in India) I’d be over the moon.

“If I ever get there I’d just be that excited to be there and have it on my head I’d like to think I’m a chance if I can put some performances on the board.

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“I’ve always put a focus on playing spin in my training, just because it’s such a big part of the game and specifically because I started my career in the middle order.

“Especially in one-day cricket, you’ve got to be adept at playing spin bowling.

“I felt I handled spin quite well when I had my first crack in the Australian side playing in a few tours overseas.

“I’m certainly someone who does practice playing spin a lot.”