AUSTRALIAN batsman Callum Ferguson will be heading back to New Road as the county’s main overseas player for the 2019 campaign after a sensational spell with the county this summer.
Head coach Kevin Sharp confirmed Ferguson will link up with Worcestershire on May 1 next year and he is expected to be available for the majority of the season.
Ferguson has been playing purely white ball cricket during this spell but in 2019 will be available to feature in all formats of the game.
“It has been a great experience this year. I’ve probably ended up playing a little bit more for Worcestershire this year than I expected when initially coming over,” he said.
“That has been really exciting, we’re in a good position, winning lots of games of cricket, and I’m really looking forward to getting the band back together next year, as you might put it!
“It will be great to play the red ball stuff as well and have virtually a full season over here, a real experience that I’ve wanted to get a hold of.”
Right-hander Ferguson has made a massive impact right from day one when hitting 192 on his debut in the Royal London One-Day Cup clash with visiting Leicestershire Foxes after an earlier than expected call-up to replace Travis Head.
It was the highest List A score by a Worcestershire batsman, beating Tom Moody’s 180 against Surrey at The Oval in the 1994 NatWest Trophy semi-final.
He followed that up with 159 not out against Northamptonshire Steelbacks in the same competition at Blackfinch New Road. Ferguson has also scored consistently in the Vitality Blast and hit his first T20 century with 106 not out in the win over Notts Outlaws at Trent Bridge.
Ferguson will return to New Road as a married man after he ties the knot with police officer Rhiannon Eglinton in April.
Sharp is delighted to have acquired the services of Ferguson for such a significant part of next season.
He said: “We didn’t know too much about Callum initially. He came to play some white ball cricket for us and he has excelled.
“It’s not just his skill as a batsman, it is the way he is as a person. He is a caring, smart individual who understands the game and he understands people. He has fitted in superbly here so it was a no-brainer really to have him come back here for a longer period next season.
“Callum was keen to come back and the very fact he is going to be with us for most of the season gives us that stabilising factor as well. He has played a lot of cricket and his stats are good – this is going to be to our benefit.
“The 192 against Leicestershire was up there with the best innings you will see and the other night at Trent Bridge, in different circumstances, he played with great maturity and skill.”