After an excellent debut season in 2004-05, when he topped South Australia's run tally, Callum Ferguson fell to fourth on the list the next summer and sixth in 2006-07. But he was back up to third with 498 runs from eight matches in a forgettable 2007-08 for the Redbacks. With the retirements of Darren Lehmann and Matthew Elliott, Ferguson will shoulder even more of the responsibility next year. He bounced back last season from the previous campaign where he was dropped from the Pura Cup team and finished with 342 runs at 26.3, but his one-day record was less impressive this time with a high score of 29 not out, his average down six runs from the previous year, now at 23.25. A lightly-built, stylish right-hand batsman, Ferguson has had two stints at the Centre of Excellence and is highly-rated within the Redbacks camp. He showed incredible maturity when he made his first-class debut three seasons ago and posted 733 Pura Cup runs as the rest of the team's strokeplayers struggled. The next summer 506 at 36 followed but his only concern in making four half-centuries was a highest score of 65. His only two centuries to date both came in his first season. A talented junior, Ferguson was first picked for the Academy in 2002 and was then chosen for the Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh in 2004, but a knee injury on the eve of the tournament kept him from playing.
Cricinfo staff April 2008

• Dorey's five drive Warriors home (Dec 16, 2007)
  
• Redbacks battle in Adelaide (Nov 11, 2007)
  
• Bollinger and Bracken rattle rusty Redbacks (Nov 9, 2007)
  
• Redbacks draft in Ferguson (Nov 6, 2007)
  
• Ronchi in charge for tour opener (Oct 25, 2007)
  

View the full list of 34 related articles

Dec 14, 2007 Callum Ferguson looks on as Brett Dorey bowls him for 15 © Getty Images

Dec 5, 2007 Shane Watson celebrates dismissing Callum Ferguson © Getty Images

Nov 9, 2007 Callum Ferguson top scored for South Australia with 83 © Getty Images

View the full list of 8 related images