David Warner encouraged me to tamper with ball - Cameron Bancroft

[Sherlock]

Cameron Bancroft has revealed David Warner asked him to tamper with the ball in Cape Town, but the Western Australian says ultimately he had to take responsibility for his own actions.

In Cape Town’s immediate aftermath Cricket Australia pinned Warner as the mastermind of the ill-fated ploy. Mere days away from the end of his CA mandated nine-month ban, Bancroft has confirmed that much to be true in an exclusive interview with Adam Gilchrist for Fox Cricket.

However, he admitted his own distorted values played a key role.

Watch Adam Gilchrist’s one-on-one interview with Cameron Bancroft on Fox Cricket at lunch on day one of the Boxing Day Test.

“Dave (Warner) suggested to me to carry the action out on the ball given the situation we were in the game and I didn’t know any better,” Bancroft said. “I didn’t know any better because I just wanted to fit in and feel valued really. As simple as that.

“The decision was based around my values, what I valued at the time and I valued fitting in… you hope that fitting in earns you respect and with that, I guess, there came a pretty big cost for the mistake.”

Despite acting under the advice of Warner, Bancroft knows that he has no one to blame but himself for the decisions he made.

“I take no other responsibility but the responsibility I have on myself and my own actions because I am not a victim. I had a choice and I made a massive mistake and that is what is in my control.”

In the near nine months since that career changing day in South Africa, the gritty right-hander has often pondered what would have happened if he had refused to tamper with the ball. Knowing who he was at the time, Bancroft said he would have ended the same day facing the “exact same problem”.

“I would have gone to bed and I would have felt like I had let everybody down. I would have felt like I had let the team down. I would have left like I had hurt our chances to win the game of cricket.”

Months of introspection have followed since, with Bancroft intent on being ‘true to himself’, realising how his desire for acceptance had influenced his career to date.

He began the long road back to redemption just hours after he had been caught red-handed, going into the umpire’s room to apologise before fronting up at a press conference alongside Steve Smith where he told the unfortunate lie that he had used a piece of tape with dirt rather than sandpaper.

He then accepted his hefty nine-month ban from top level cricket and the 100 hours of cricket community service that came with it. It is understood he has completed closer to 200 hours.

In that time he has taken a keen interest in yoga and played Premier Cricket for Willetton. The 26-year-old was intent that he would not fill his nine months away from cricket at the highest level simply ticking boxes.

Of course, the consequences of Cape Town reached much further than just Bancroft, Smith and Warner with Cricket Australia undergoing a major bloodletting in the wake of the Longstaff Review — a cultural review of the organisation and the game.

Having had to take a good hard look at the mirror himself, Bancroft says it is imperative that CA make the most of this rare chance for change.

“The reason why it was painful is because the truth hurts. Maybe in that review there was some truths that were pretty hard to accept.

“What does that bring? It brings an amazing opportunity to do something about it. Only Cricket Australia will know if they are being true to themselves, to be able to own up to some of those recommendations. If they can look at themselves in the mirror and be really content and be really peaceful, and proud of the direction they’re going, that’s OK.

“If they aren’t, like me, that value will always come undone won’t it? It will present itself in the face to you and you’ll have to learn another lesson.”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...n/news-story/e89f1d54018c48653d865256aca8c228

 

[PakFan312]

Woahh!! Opens up a can of worms and gives the scandal media spotlight once again.

 

[Junaids]

Remember the Sharjeel Khan thread in which I wrote that the key is putting in writing BEFORE the event what will happen?

I was at Wellington in February 2016 and wrote that after the pitch turned brown, the reverse swing that Mitchell Marsh got was not normal on a surface as smooth as a billiard table.

And I was at Durban two Tests before Australia was caught for sandpaper, and wrote that the outfield was so green that you would only get reverse before 60 overs by ball tampering.

And then I wrote that it was reversing.......in the 27th over.

Which is when Fanie De Villiers also became suspicious and got South African TV to watch the Aussie fielders closely.

I am convinced that the tampering occurred under Steve Smith for at least 2 years and 1 month.

And I don’t believe that it was a lone outlaw (Lee Harvey Warner) who did it.

Or that the bowlers who bowled the ball didn’t recognise that it was scuffed up excessively and reversing round corners.

 

[Savak]

David Warner is a disgraceful disgusting cheat who should never play for Australia again. A few crocodile tears and a few tears and pleas from friends in the media "Good people can make mistakes" and all the sympathy started flowing in.

 

[Savak]

Remember the Sharjeel Khan thread in which I wrote that the key is putting in writing BEFORE the event what will happen?

I was at Wellington in February 2016 and wrote that after the pitch turned brown, the reverse swing that Mitchell Marsh got was not normal on a surface as smooth as a billiard table.

And I was at Durban two Tests before Australia was caught for sandpaper, and wrote that the outfield was so green that you would only get reverse before 60 overs by ball tampering.

And then I wrote that it was reversing.......in the 27th over.

Which is when Fanie De Villiers also became suspicious and got South African TV to watch the Aussie fielders closely.

I am convinced that the tampering occurred under Steve Smith for at least 2 years and 1 month.

And I don’t believe that it was a lone outlaw (Lee Harvey Warner) who did it.

Or that the bowlers who bowled the ball didn’t recognise that it was scuffed up excessively and reversing round corners.

Ofcourse it did. The amount of reverse swing Starc got in those 2 years on the most benign surfaces was unexplainable. In that MCG test game played on an extremely flat pitch, no bowler got any reverse swing except for him in the final session on Day 5. His dip in form and bowling quality after the ball tampering scandal is very revealing.

 

[Junaids]

Ofcourse it did. The amount of reverse swing Starc got in those 2 years on the most benign surfaces was unexplainable. In that MCG test game played on an extremely flat pitch, no bowler got any reverse swing except for him in the final session on Day 5. His dip in form and bowling quality after the ball tampering scandal is very revealing.

Precisely.

They even reversed it in the Day/Night Test at Adelaide against England.

Which was outrageous for two reasons.

I have attended every Day/Night Test ever played in Australia. And not a single ball has ever reversed except for that match because:

1. The pink ball has multiple layers of lacquer to stop it from falling apart.

2. The grass is kept long to prevent the pink ball from falling apart.

So it takes conventional swing for much longer, but zero reverse.

Unless you are Steve Smith’s 2017-18 Aussies!

 

[Sin Nombre]

It is obvious that they have been doing it for ages. Look at Starc since, no more reverse and he is no longer a threat in tests.


Also, this statement from Bancroft is expected; the idea is to make Warner look as the villain so that Smith can be rehabilitated in the coming months.

 

[Oligochaetes]

It is obvious that they have been doing it for ages. Look at Starc since, no more reverse and he is no longer a threat in tests.


Also, this statement from Bancroft is expected; the idea is to make Warner look as the villain so that Smith can be rehabilitated in the coming months.

And garner some sympathy for himself. His career is surely more important to him than Smith's.

By the way I didnt see any pitcures of bancroft crying in any press conference, did he escape? or did I miss it.

 

[Savak]

And garner some sympathy for himself. His career is surely more important to him than Smith's.

By the way I didnt see any pitcures of bancroft crying in any press conference, did he escape? or did I miss it.

Bancroft has become a Yoga Instructor. In fact he has even said he enjoyed it so much that he is even contemplating giving up Cricket to take on the role full time.

 

[Hawkeye]

What's new here? Why is he coming in the spotlight again?

Let it go already.

Tampering the ball is nothing new, almost every team does it or has done it. Don't need to act as if Warner did something unique or different from what other teams do.

Even if he did, he has faced the toughest ever punishment for it. Never in the history it was done before.

Now don't try to become hero or a media star by keep pointing fingers at him.

Y'all did it, it's done. Now start playing cricket again and win matches for Aus!

Enough.

 

[MP2011]

lol, even then this cheat's absence is cited again and again by the likes of Aman.

 

[Gullycricket]

The things which SA officials,De Kock,media said about Warner's wife would have prompted a similar reaction from any other player.He is serving a very harsh punishment for something which many teams have indulged Bancroft doing PR here to get back into the side

 

[princeuk]

Oh dear, this is going to end in tears.

 

[MP2011]

Amount of love these 2 cheats receive here is mind boggling.

 

[Swashbuckler]

More than ball tampering I am interested to know whether the Aussies under Steve Smith resorted to soft signals/dressing room communication for their DRS reviews. They used to be excellent in reviews, but ever since Kohli and co caught them in the act in the 2017 India series, their review accuracy has dropped alarmingly. I am pretty sure that brainfade excuse by Smith is **, it always seemed like organized cheating depending on match situation.

 

[Swashbuckler]

I remember how during that 2017 series Smith got 70% of his reviews correct before brainfade, then after that expose he got only 1 out of the next 12 reviews correct. Following the Aussies in this series, their review accuracy is almost as bad as India's despite us being hampered by a foolish and excitable captain.

 

[Savak]

Amount of love these 2 cheats receive here is mind boggling.

A wonderful PR excercise by Warne and certain nationalistic Australians under the guise of "Good people make mistakes". Nope, disgraceful cheats are disgraceful cheats which the Australian Cricket Board and nation of Australia has labbelled these three players and correctly so.

 

[Abdul]

None of you all have got any rights to point fingers at others if you support even worse crooks like Mohammad Amir.

 

[nitrous]

Posters here should look at their own backyard first before commenting on others.

That’s all I shall say.

 

[Savak]

None of you all have got any rights to point fingers at others if you support even worse crooks like Mohammad Amir.

Not really. We have every right to point fingers at Steve Smith and Co. I find it hypocritical that the excuse "Good people make mistakes" applies to them but not to Amir who fully served his 5 year sentence including juvenile prison.

 

[Savak]

Posters here should look at their own backyard first before commenting on others.

That’s all I shall say.

Do Australian posters do this before commenting on Pakistan Cricket and Pakistani Cricketers?

 

[BaankeJi]

Do Australian posters do this before commenting on Pakistan Cricket and Pakistani Cricketers?

But they don't cross the line.

_________________________________________

 

[Savak]

But they don't cross the line.

_________________________________________

We arent crossing any lines either

 

[Abdul]

Good stuff, cheaters always deserve to get shamed.

 

[Slog]

Good stuff, cheaters always deserve to get shamed.

yes

but to save others the blame shouldn't be just all on one person

 

[Navdeep Srivastava]

Well if David Warner ask Bancroft to give all his property to charity and start living on street, then Bancroft will say, yes master as you wish, your wish is my command.
Seriously grow up, you were adult at that time.

 

[Abdul]

yes

but to save others the blame shouldn't be just all on one person

That's true but Warner deserves this anyways for being a loudmouth. His attitude is the reason why I don't have a hard time believing he is the mastermind of this saga but all three of them are cheaters.

 

[JattMaula]

This interview reveals Aussie cricket team's culture.

 

[Abdullah719]

Interesting.

 

[princeuk]

This interview reveals Aussie cricket team's culture.

I dont know what happened to their culture, they had the best team culture across all countries and it was evident for all to see, but this has all come downhill in recent times.

 

[CricketDon]

David Warner is a disgraceful disgusting cheat who should never play for Australia again. A few crocodile tears and a few tears and pleas from friends in the media "Good people can make mistakes" and all the sympathy started flowing in.

I’d warner is all these things for trying to win a game for his team, thean what is Amir, Asif, butt, latif, sharjeel to name a few who sold their country for a £?

 

[Savak]

There is no culture. It's quite simply a case of cheating and the pressures to perform and retain their places in the team

 

[CricketDon]

This was starting to all die down and settle. But this idiot has reopened it. Cricket Australia should just ignore his selection and leave him in the past.

 

[Salma_T]

I dont know what happened to their culture, they had the best team culture across all countries and it was evident for all to see, but this has all come downhill in recent times.

They were use to winning and when the players started dropping off they had to resort to something. I for do not think it was an isolated incident or that the bowlers weren't aware of what was happening as how can they not know if they are going to be the beneficiaries. It is hard tablet for many in Australia to swallow but seems the blatant ball tampering and success of certain bowlers went hand in.

 

[Robert]

I dont know what happened to their culture, they had the best team culture across all countries and it was evident for all to see , but this has all come downhill in recent times.

Well, I couldn’t see it.

This development can be explained by the win-at-all-costs attitude, plus a skipper who is good at cricket but too young for the position mentally / emotionally, plus a senior player who has often shown poor judgement.

 

[giri26]

Isolated David Warner still in contention for Australia return: CA chief

Cricket Australia chief Kevin Roberts Thursday denied explosive revelations about the ball-tampering scandal had isolated David Warner and made it untenable for him to return to the international game.

Both Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith have given bombshell interviews in recent days as they re-emerge into public life after the incident in South Africa in March that rattled the sport.

Observers have interpreted their tell-all comments as effectively throwing the divisive Warner under the bus.

“In those comments, he has buried Dave Warner,” former Australian opener Michael Slater said of the Bancroft interview in which he blamed him as the instigator of the plot to use sandpaper to rough up the ball.

Bancroft claimed he went along “to fit in” and because he “didn’t know any better”.

Last week Smith also opened up about the incident, distancing himself from the plot while admitting he failed as a captain by turning a blind eye.

“I had the opportunity to stop it at that point rather than say, ‘I don’t want to know anything about it’,” he said.

Roberts said the timing of the interviews wasn’t ideal, given they have overshadowed the crucial third Test against India, with the series tied 1-1.

But he denied they impacted Warner’s chance of being brought back into the Australian fold.

“I don’t know if it does (make it harder for Warner). Our focus is to work with Dave, who I spoke to about three days ago, on his integration plan when he is eligible for selection again,” Roberts told SEN sports radio in Melbourne.

“Our focus is on how we proactively look forward and work with the players, rather than be concerned with what has happened in the past.”

He also questioned whether anything new came out of the interviews, given an investigation had previously pointed to Warner as the mastermind and he had admitted responsibility for his part.

- Severe mistake -

Meanwhile Darren Lehmann, who was coach at the time but stepped down in the aftermath of the vitriolic fallout, said Bancroft should have talked to him or other staff if he felt suffocated by the pressure.

“Yeah he could’ve and should’ve come to us,” he told Macquarie Sports Radio, where he is commentating on the third Test.

“At the end of the day it was a mistake — we know that. A severe mistake made by the guys and a lot of people have suffered one way or the other through that. We know it shouldn’t have happened, but it did.”

Lehmann added that Smith should have had “more control” over the situation.

“Steve decided to turn a blind eye — I still can’t understand the pressures of captaining your country, it’s quite high you would think,” he said.

Smith and Warner were banned for a year from international and domestic cricket while Bancroft was suspended for nine months. He is due to make his return this weekend.

Warner is yet to respond to the latest revelations and former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, who conducted the interviews with Bancroft and Smith for Fox Sports, urged him to give his side of the story.

“There’s no doubt Davey Warner would be feeling so isolated at the moment,” said Gilchrist.

“I would encourage Dave to come out wherever and just be honest and as open as you need to be to get back to playing cricket.”

Like Roberts, some top former players said they were shocked by the timing of the interviews, and that Bancroft and Smith opted to give them, including Dean Jones who said they simply threw “more fuel on the fire”.

“Just keep quiet boys… do your time and play… that’s if they get that chance again,” he added on Twitter.

https://www.cricketcountry.com/news...ntention-for-australia-return-ca-chief-783424

 

[JattMaula]

More than ball tampering I am interested to know whether the Aussies under Steve Smith resorted to soft signals/dressing room communication for their DRS reviews. They used to be excellent in reviews, but ever since Kohli and co caught them in the act in the 2017 India series, their review accuracy has dropped alarmingly. I am pretty sure that brain fade excuse by Smith is **, it always seemed like organized cheating depending on the match situation.

I remember how during that 2017 series Smith got 70% of his reviews correct before brain fade, then after that expose he got only 1 out of the next 12 reviews correct. Following the Aussies in this series, their review accuracy is almost as bad as India's despite us being hampered by a foolish and excitable captain.

Organised cheating was part of Aussie team strategy under Smith. It took sandpaper to the crotch to expose it.

 

[Savak]

A simple question, would these ex Aussie players be this charitable if a Pakistani player or players were involved?

Don't think so

 

[CricFan2012]

It is obvious that they have been doing it for ages. Look at Starc since, no more reverse and he is no longer a threat in tests.


Also, this statement from Bancroft is expected; the idea is to make Warner look as the villain so that Smith can be rehabilitated in the coming months.

Everyone pretty much tampers with the ball, Aussies were dumb enough to get exposed with their method.

Bancroft is just pointing fingers here, it was his own decision in the end, he could have refused, he's trying to shift all the blame on Warner entirely.

 

[Sin Nombre]

It is very obvious looking at Starc's test career that Australia were ball tampering at a much bigger scale than anyone else.

Best reverse swing bowler in the world to just a standard quick.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Don't see any comeback for Warner now.

 

[wrongun]

A simple question, would these ex Aussie players be this charitable if a Pakistani player or players were involved?

Don't think so

On the contrary, they've welcomed back Amir with open arms and many still celebrate Wasim as the most skilful bowler they faced (not the best competitor, bust skilled bowler).

 

[Smbhayi]

I always like Warner and still likes him... did SRH retain Warner..? if he performs well in IPL he'll surely gonna play World Cup..

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

The things which SA officials,De Kock,media said about Warner's wife would have prompted a similar reaction from any other player.He is serving a very harsh punishment for something which many teams have indulged Bancroft doing PR here to get back into the side

Warner picked the fight

He is glass cannon, shoots a lot but can’t take any fire back

 

[pakistanigoneaussie]

On the contrary, they've welcomed back Amir with open arms and many still celebrate Wasim as the most skilful bowler they faced (not the best competitor, bust skilled bowler).

True, I was surprised by the reaction or lack there of that Amir got in Australia

 

[Haroon786]

The things which SA officials,De Kock,media said about Warner's wife would have prompted a similar reaction from any other player.He is serving a very harsh punishment for something which many teams have indulged Bancroft doing PR here to get back into the side

What did the SA officials, De Kock and the media say?

 

[Misia]

Maybe if someone who has time on thyre hands will look at the test matches in question over those 2yrs again and see if they can find or see a patern especially on starc's (and others) bowling, who are the fielders that handle the ball more when on its path back to the bowler

I remember for Pakistan the 2 W's always had certain fielders rubbing and shinning the ball

 

[jagatk]

The things which SA officials,De Kock,media said about Warner's wife would have prompted a similar reaction from any other player.He is serving a very harsh punishment for something which many teams have indulged Bancroft doing PR here to get back into the side

If it were anyone else I could have agreed, but little Davey has a history of being a bully who can dish it out but can't cop it, also no team has been caught using sandpaper. It is one thing to use a little of the surrounding to help the ball to reverse and another to bring in a foreign object to flat out cheat.

 

[wrongun]

It's pretty clear their cheating got way out of hand, whether other teams were doing other things or not. By the time you think using sandpaper is ok, you're way out of touch/out of control.

Bancroft's interview was self serving (he's 25 and says he didn't know right from wrong or that he could stand on his own two feet? No, you're supposed to be a grown man). Warner seems to be on the outs with the rest of the team mates now.

 

[Varun]

Cameron Bancroft's revealing interview with Adam Gilchrist

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AfutFli3R8w" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Not sure how many of you have seen this from a few days ago. Don't you think it's dangerous for him to be claiming that he felt he would have let down the team if he had said 'no', even with the benefit of hindsight?

Aside from that, there are other interesting tidbits regarding the lead-up to the test, the emotions when Handscomb ran onto the ground with the message, and other things here and there.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Seems like he is still trying to make excuses for their blantant cheating. There was no need to mention Warner or saying he didn't want to let the team down. He should have said Im not stupid , I knew I was cheating , we tried to hide our cheating and were caught red handed.

He should also be honest and state if he is aware of previous incidents of tampering with the ball. There is no way this was the first and only time. Otherwise dont waste anyones time with these interviews apart from the Aussie public who you want sympathy from.

 

[happydavy]

The only guy who's coming across as sensible person in this saga is David Warner. No need for unnecessary interviews or mud slinging on teammates, when your ban is about to get lifted. Let the bat do the talking.

 

[Varun]

The only guy who's coming across as sensible person in this saga is David Warner. No need for unnecessary interviews or mud slinging on teammates, when your ban is about to get lifted. Let the bat do the talking.

Yep, seems to be the 'Asif' of the trio. Nonchalant about the ban before and after.

 

[Darkrai]

And you were a kid who couldn't think for himself?

 

[someone21]

The only guy who's coming across as sensible person in this saga is David Warner. No need for unnecessary interviews or mud slinging on teammates, when your ban is about to get lifted. Let the bat do the talking.

Seriously? So you give the benefit of doubt to somebody just because he hasn't spoken, or is quiet. Thats **.

 

[someone21]

Imo, the 1 year sentence was only due to World Cup nearby. If this scandal occurred in 2016, they would have gotten the 2-3 years. So it's all a farce...

 

[Slog]

Imo, the 1 year sentence was only due to World Cup nearby. If this scandal occurred in 2016, they would have gotten the 2-3 years. So it's all a farce...

Lol they don’t care about world cups

If the scandal had occurred in any other country it would have been just a 3 match ban

 

[happydavy]

Seriously? So you give the benefit of doubt to somebody just because he hasn't spoken, or is quiet. Thats **.

Benefit of doubt for what? Of course he was involved and he is serving his punishment.

 

[Junaids]

There is a big danger for Australia here.

Smith and Bancroft are clearly trying to bolster their own positions by blaming Warner now.

But at their end-of-play Press Conference at Cape Town when they were caught, they claimed that the “leadership group” of players in the team was jointly involved.

They don’t seem to understand the risk.

Starc and Hazlewood’s performances have plummeted since losing access to doctored balls. And I wrote earlier that the huge amounts of reverse had been happening for two years.

Do they understand that if Warner is kept out of the team like Asif and Butt he might sell his story and tell the public the truth!

 

[giri26]

‘Making sure that I am the best person I can be’ – David Warner

Australian opening batsman David Warner, currently serving a ban handed down by Cricket Australia for his role in the ball-tampering scandal, spoke out in a rare press conference in Bangladesh.

Warner is currently serving a 12-month ban for his role in encouraging his Australia team-mate Cameron Bancroft to use sandpaper in an attempt to alter the condition of the ball. Comments from current captain Tim Paine appeared to leave the door open to Warner and Steve Smith to return once their bans are up, but Warner isn’t thinking too far ahead.

"It is up to the selectors whether or not they want to pick me,” he said. “At the end of the day, all I can do is score runs in this tournament and the IPL, keep putting my hand up and making sure that I am the best person I can be."

Part of Warner’s punishment by CA was a lifetime ban from holding captaincy positions, but he will still be leading the Sylhet Sixers in the Bangladesh Premier League.

"I am extremely grateful to be leading the side,” he said. “For me it is about making sure that we as a whole, including the support staff and management, can get the best out of the players. We have to establish our best XI when we get into the park and make sure we do the right things in training. I have to make sure I am doing my job right, which is scoring runs and leading the guys on the park."

On Sunday 6 January, Sylhet will take on Comilla Victorians in a mouthwatering clash that will pit Warner against his former Australia captain and ball-tampering co-conspirator Smith. Warner however thinks the game is about far more than one cricketer on each side.

"I will just treat it as another game. It is not just taking on one player but taking on a team of eleven players. It is about making sure that our bowlers know how to get Smith out, and then tackle the rest of the guys."

Still, Warner will be key to his sides chances as one of the world’s best T20 batsmen. He has been playing grade cricket in Australia and feels in good form coming into the tournament, though he acknowledges that conditions will present a challenge.

"I was having a conversation with Waqar [Younis, Sylhet coach] today about playing club cricket in Australia at the moment,” he said. “The wickets are quite low and slow. It has been tough to adapt to those conditions but I have had a very good run of form at home and having played here in Dhaka and Chattogram before, I know what the wicket is going to be like. So for me it is about getting into a routine and rhythm and making sure I can lead from the front, from the top so it makes it easy for the guys coming in."

However, while Warner has been playing some cricket, he has been able to enjoy some of the benefits of being away from the grind of the professional scene.

"Life has been good for me," he said. "I have been spending time with the family. I wouldn't be able to do that if I wasn’t sitting in the sidelines. It is about getting the best out of myself and growing as a human being. The most important thing was being a father and husband at home. Now it is down to playing cricket again and making sure I get Sylhet Sixers on top of the table."

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/967151

 

[giri26]

'I'm playing a bit better, that's a real positive' – Cameron Bancroft

Cameron Bancroft, the Australia opener and Ashes 2019 squad probable, is enjoying his leadership role with Durham and feels the work he put on his game during his Cricket Australia-sanctioned suspension is bearing fruit.

Bancroft has been in good form since his comeback to competitive cricket following the conclusion of his nine-month suspension over his involvement in the Newlands ball-tampering scandal. He made big runs in the Big Bash League and Sheffield Shield for Western Australia and has carried that form over to England, where he is captain of Durham.

In six innings at the One-Day Cup, Bancroft has scored 359 runs at 89.75, including two centuries. Notably, he has also been keeping wicket. Bancroft feels his time away from the game allowed him the chance to work on basics that ultimately define one's game.

"When you're playing a lot of games you don't necessarily have the time to work on the little things that put the performance together, I was able to do that ... I had some great mentors in Western Australia that were supporting me," Bancroft said on RSN's Breakfast Club.

"It was really, honestly, a lot about the basics. When you can apply them in grade cricket that was pretty good practice. If I wasn't getting better as a player I'd be going backwards so I think the fact there's a bit more consistency and I'm playing a bit better, I think that's a real positive."

Bancroft's limited-overs form is in a good place but to really push his case for Ashes selection, he will have to make sure that he maintains that form for when the Championship season resumes in mid-May. His Durham commitments mean that he will not feature for Australia A on their tour of England ahead of the Ashes.

"The Aussie A stuff I wasn't too concerned about as I had made a commitment to the club," he said. "They've implemented a lot of great things and I want to be a positive part of that. If I'm performing well what comes down the future will be, but I'm having a lot of fun right now and I'll continue to do that."

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1204868

 

[BouncerGuy]

Aussies address shock blacklist rumour as star’s brutal ‘lineball’ snub explained

Head of national selectors George Bailey has emphatically denied suggestions that Cameron Bancroft has been black-listed from returning to Australia’s Test XI after his latest snub.

Bancroft, the highest run-scorer in the Sheffield Shield of the past two seasons, was on Wednesday left off a 13-player list to play the first Test against the West Indies.

Instead, Steve Smith was confirmed as Australia’s opening replacement for David Warner, while Cameron Green will bat at No.4, and Matthew Renshaw is back-up.

The announcement confirmed the worst-kept secret that Bancroft would again be left waiting for his first Test appearance since 2019.

Even before confirmation, figures from the West were up in arms, with former all-rounder Tom Moody suggesting there was an “agenda” against Bancroft, who famously ball-tampered for Australia in Cape Town in 2018.

Moody wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that while selection is “never an easy task... the oversight of Cameron Bancroft is shocking”.

“His first class numbers are so compelling against his peers it feels there is another agenda which I hope was communicated to him honestly!” he added.

Rumours swirled ahead of the squad announcement that Bancroft’s standing within the team after the ball-tampering scandal had something to do with his snubbing.

However, Bailey strongly refuted those suggestions when asked by a reporter on Wednesday.

“Categorically no (there’s no issue between players and Bancroft),” he said.

“And I’ve shared this with Cameron on a number of occasions. It’s never been discussed, from the panel’s perspective, it’s purely a cricketing decision.”

He added: “There’s not a member of the team who would have an issue with Cam playing. We certainly don’t have an issue with it.

“I think a lot of people forget the fact that Cam’s actually played Test cricket since returning from the ban.

“It was a long time ago. We’ve all moved well past that. I’d be disappointed if people were looking to that as a reason… that’s not the case. Never has been and never will be.”

As for why Bancroft was left out, Bailey said other players - not specifically openers - had been banging down the door, and he only missed out in a “line ball call”.

“Ultimately the decision to get Cam (Green) into the team was around we want our best six batters playing. As it currently stands the panel sees Matt Renshaw as our next best batsman,” he said.

He added: “He is banging down the door. As I said, I think there’s a number of players that are banging down the door and that’s great. It’s not a bad thing that you’re having to make line ball decisions. It’s actually a really good thing.”

Earlier, Bancroft’s former coach and fellow West Australian Justin Langer joined the batter’s corner, saying his snubbing was “disappointing”.

Langer wrote in a column for The West Australian: “The mantra for all selectors is to tell aspiring players to score runs, take wickets, knock down the door. Be so good we can’t ignore you. Bancroft was given this message. All players are. He has taken the advice.

“Critics might point to his weaknesses of days gone by. Every player who is any good, gets dropped, looks for feedback and then goes away and gets better. Bancroft has ticked this box as well.“Form can’t be the issue. Timing isn’t either. David Warner has just retired. Cameron Bancroft will feel disappointed, as will Marcus Harris who has been next in line for some time. Matthew Renshaw will be understandably delighted.”

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