SOUTH Australian Callum Ferguson is in the mix to earn his first baggy green cap after being named in the 17-man Australian squad for First Test against England in Brisbane next week.
Ferguson, 25, is the only SA member of the Ashes squad which has been selected early because of injury concerns and lack of form surrounding several players named.
His inclusion along with NSW duo Usman Khawaja and Steven Smith have signalled there is a shift away from the old guard.
“Usman Khawaja and Callum Ferguson have both enjoyed extremely good interstate seasons for New South Wales and South Australia respectively and richly deserve the opportunity to be considered for selection in this first Test side,” National Selectors Panel chairman Andrew Hilditch said.
Ferguson has a further chance to enhance his Ashes claims before the First Test at the Gabba from November 25 when he plays for Australia A against England in Hobart this week.
Ferguson, who has had two stints at the Centre of Excellence, showed incredible maturity when he made his first-class debut, posting 733 Sheffield Shield runs while many of his SA team's stroke-makers struggled then the following summer he backed up with 506 at 36, his highest score was 65.
Already in the 2010-11 season Ferguson has scored a century, when SA took first innings points against WA in the Sheffield Shield match at Adelaide Oval last month and although he didn't go on with the job for his state side against England last week still batted well enough to be included in the Ashes squad.
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