Ferguson still aiming for higher honours

Callum Ferguson still dreams of adding to his solitary Test match appearance for Australia, with this year's Ashes tour of England a genuine target.

Ferguson scored three and one in his only Test for Australia two years ago, a disastrous innings loss to South Africa in Hobart.

Whatever way the selectors go, the classy right-hand batsman, who top-scored with 47 in the Sydney Thunder's 20-run loss to the Adelaide Strikers on New Year's Eve, will be in the UK anyway, either as an Ashes tourist or as an overseas import with Worcestershire.

"That's why I'm still playing the game, I'm still trying to get to the very top," he said.

"Wherever the runs come, I'll be trying to make as many as possible.

"Even if I don't get picked in the Ashes squad, I've signed on with Worcestershire this winter to play all three formats.

"You always hold out hope and that's the aim."

Ferguson remains spurred by his one-off Test failure in Hobart.

"It was a really tough period for the Australian team," he said.

"It just made me hungrier, there's no doubt about it.

"I'm hopeful that I'll get an opportunity at redemption, so to speak, and to hopefully help Australia win Test matches."

In the 17th over of the Thunder's run chase, Ferguson was involved in a minor confrontation with Striker Rashid Khan.

Rashid, who bravely took 2-34 a day after his father passed away, approached Ferguson and the star legspinner definitely wasn't wearing his trademark smile.

"He (Rashid) was a bit grumpy," Ferguson said.

"He definitely didn't think I said anything. He just came down and wasn't overly pleased with how things were going for him at that stage.

"He's had a tough time and he's a quality competitor.

"Maybe it was just a bit of everything that's been going on with him.

"We wish him all the best."