an external gear shift for the gear selection in a manual transmission is provided that includes , but is not limited to a gearshift / selector lever , which is guided in a link plate and which is movable along a selector track and a plurality of shifting tracks , and a measuring sensor to detect an instantaneous position of the gearshift / selector lever . guide fingers of the link plate disposed between shifting and selector tracks each have flanks oriented obliquely to the shifting and selector tracks .