Oz batsman Ferguson sets his sights on Proteas ODI tour

Melbourne, New Delhi 17 (ANI): South Australian batsman Callum Ferguson on Tuesday said he is determined to be in the squad for the one-day internationals in South Africa.

Australia and South Africa will play five One-Day Internationals and two Twenty20 encounters from the second half of February to mid-April.

Ferguson, who has come in for praise from skipper Ricky Ponting, is keen to make the grade, Fox Sports reports.

Ferguson was dismissed once in four innings making 102 runs during the Chappell-Hadlee Series against New Zealand, which caused skipper Ponting to comment on the 24-year-old's brilliance.

"Ricky has been such a great player for so long and getting praise from a player like him is a huge compliment," he said.

The young player is keen to get some runs for South Australia to convince the Selectors to pick him.

Ferguson believes that Ponting's praise will do him a lot of good.

"It means a lot, he has seen some good players and I just think that will urge me to keep going, improving and working hard," he said.

The player, who debuted for South Australia in 2004-05, said his confidence has grown in Ponting's company.

"There's a lot of good players around in domestic cricket. So, I need to get some runs in the last few games with the Redbacks, and give myself every opportunity." (ANI)