WORCESTERSHIRE head coach Kevin Sharp paid tribute to the contribution made this summer by Callum Ferguson after he finished his current spell at Blackfinch New Road.

Ferguson flies home early this week to begin preparations for the domestic season with South Australia.

He has made a telling impact for Rapids in both the Royal London One-Day Cup and Vitality Blast.

His final appearance came in Saturday’s Blast quarter-final with Gloucestershire when he scored a crucial unbeaten half-century to help seal a finals day spot at Edgbaston on September 15.

Ferguson will return to Blackfinch New Road from May 1 next summer after his wedding and honeymoon for most of the campaign.

He said: “Callum is leaving in the next few days to go back to Australia. We wish him well back home and look forward to seeing him back here next year.

“We knew his track record in Australian cricket and he has been a revelation for us.

“He started to play in the 50-over competition, coming a bit earlier than initially planned (for Travis Head), and made some fantastic contributions and it’s been the same in T20.

“He loves the game of cricket, he is a mature man, a skilful player, he just fitted in so well and is a good bloke.

“We are delighted we’ve been able to secure him for most of next season. It was a no-brainer really.”

The County have so far used four overseas players in Head, Ferguson, Martin Guptill and Wayne Parnell this summer with Ravichandran Ashwin earmarked to arrive next month.

Sharp said: “These days with overseas players, there are so many comings and goings with different tournaments.

“This year we’ve been to-ing and fro-ing all of the time but we’ve managed to secure players and also get some fine contributions from them.

“In that respect the overseas player scenario has also been a revelation. They’ve all done well.”