Cameron Bancroft

Cameron Timothy Bancroft (born 19 November 1992) is an Australian cricketer, currently contracted to Western Australia in Australian first class cricket, County Durham in English first class cricket, and the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League. He made his Test debut for the Australian national team in November 2017.

Cameron Timothy Bancroft

Personal information
Full name	Cameron Timothy Bancroft
Born	19 November 1992 Attadale, Western Australia
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm off break
Role	Opening batsman, wicket-keeper
International information
National side	Australia
Test debut (cap 451)	23 November 2017 v England
Last Test	14 August 2019 v England
Only T20I (cap 79)	31 January 2016 v India
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2011/12–present	Western Australia
2014/15–present	Perth Scorchers
2016–2017	Gloucestershire
2019	Durham
Career statistics
Competition Test T20I FC LA Matches 10 1 97 56 Runs scored 446 0 6,254 1,882 Batting average 26.23 – 38.36 41.82 100s/50s 0/3 0/0 14/26 3/12 Top score 82* 0* 228* 176 Balls bowled – – 66 – Wickets – – 2 – Bowling average – – 38.50 – 5 wickets in innings – – 0 – 10 wickets in match – – 0 – Best bowling – – 1/10 – Catches/stumpings 16/– 1/0 131/1 48/1
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 26 November 2019

As a result of a Cricket Australia investigation into a ball tampering incident during the Third Test against South Africa in March 2018, Bancroft and two others, Steve Smith and David Warner (Captain and Vice Captain), were charged by Cricket Australia on 27 March 2018 with bringing the game into disrepute, suspended, and sent home from the tour. The next day, as a result of his involvement in the ball tampering incident, Cricket Australia banned Bancroft from all international and domestic cricket for nine months, and he will not be considered for a leadership role in Australian cricket before March 2020.[1] Bancroft made his return to cricket on 30 December 2018, playing for the Perth Scorchers in the 2018–19 Big Bash League season.[2] Bancroft scored 138 not out on his Sheffield Shield return as well.[3]

Youth and domestic career

After playing Under-17, Under-19 and Under-23 for Western Australia, he played several Test and ODIs for the Australian Under-19 cricket team; where he impressed with his high scoring ability, scoring three centuries, at an average of 50.90.[4][5]

In August 2012, Bancroft partook in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, where he scored the second highest total (196 runs) for Australia, second only to William Bosisto, the Australian Captain.[6][7]

He made his List A debut for Western Australia against Tasmania on 16 October 2011 and his first-class debut a week later.

International career

Bancroft was selected in the Australian Test squad to tour Bangladesh; however, that tour was cancelled for security reasons. Bancroft and the rest of the team returned to their states.

He made his Twenty20 International debut for Australia against India on 31 January 2016.[8]

In November 2017, he was named in Australia’s Test squad for the 2017–18 Ashes series.[9] He replaced Matt Renshaw as an opening batsman and became the first Australian opener to make his debut in an Ashes Test since Michael Slater in 1993.[10]

Bancroft had his baggy green cap presented to him by Geoff Marsh. In his first Test innings, he was dismissed for 5. In the second innings of the match he made 82 not out to give Australia a 10 wicket victory against England.[11] He played in all five Tests in that series.

Ball-tampering incident and suspension

Bancroft was selected for the 2018 tour of South Africa, and played in the first three Tests.

In March 2018, Bancroft admitted to ball tampering against South Africa in the third Test match held in Cape Town.[12] During the match, television footage showed Bancroft rubbing the ball with sandpaper.[13] On discovering that footage of the incident had been broadcast, Bancroft put the sandpaper down the front of his trousers, before being spoken to by the on-field umpires.[14][15] At a later press conference captain Steve Smith admitted that the plan to tamper with the ball was concocted by the team "leadership group."[16][17] The ICC later imposed a one match ban on Steve Smith and handed over 3 demerit points to Cameron Bancroft after the alleged ball tampering controversy.[18] Cricket Australia then imposed further sanctions against Bancroft, Smith and David Warner, meaning they would not take part in the fourth Test.[19] Cricket Australia launched a separate investigation into the incident as a matter of urgency.[20]

Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland announced that as a result of the preliminary investigation into the incident Smith, Warner and Bancroft had been charged with bringing the game into disrepute, suspended and sent home.[21] David Warner was later found to be responsible for the development of the plan to tamper with the ball and instructing Bancroft on how to do it. Bancroft was found to have carried out those instructions, tried to conceal evidence and mislead match officials by denying knowledge of the tampering. As a result, Bancroft received a 9-month ban from international and domestic cricket in Australia, and will not be considered for a leadership role for 1 year after that ban finishes.[22]

Somerset County Cricket Club announced that Bancroft would not be joining the county as their overseas player for the 2018 season as previously planned.[23]

Return to BBL

Bancroft made his return to professional cricket on 30 December 2018, representing the Perth Scorchers in the 2018–19 Big Bash League season.[2] In the match he scored two runs from three balls,[24] with the Hobart Hurricanes going on to win the game by six wickets.[25] Whilst he only scored 2 runs in his first game back for the Perth Scorchers, he went on to make 296 runs in 10 games in the season, including a Career Best knock of 87* against the Sydney Sixers, in which he was awarded man of the match.[26]

Return to Australian Domestic Cricket

Bancroft made his professional return to domestic cricket on 23 February 2019, representing the Western Warriors against the NSW Blues in the 2018-19 Sheffield Shield Season. Bancroft made an unbeaten 138* runs off 358 balls in his first innings, and 86 off 263 in his second. Bancroft faced a total of 621 balls in the match, falling 28 balls short of former Australian Captain Steve Waugh's record of most balls faced in a shield match.[27]

English Domestic Cricket

He was later controversially appointed as county captain for Durham.[28] Whilst the move to make him captain was criticised by members of the public, it was supported by Durham director of cricket Marcus North[28] and former Australian Captain and Teammate Steve Smith.[29] In his One Day Game debut for Durham County, Bancroft went on to make 151* runs off 130 balls to win the game against Northamptonshire in a One-Day Cup match.[30]

2019 Ashes series

In July 2019, he was named in Australia's squad for the 2019 Ashes series in England. He made his international return in the first test at Edgbaston at the beginning of August.[31][32] He played the first two Tests, but after scores of 8, 7, 13 and 16, was dropped for the third Test.

References

1. "Tampering trio learn their fate". Retrieved 28 March 2018.
2. "Bancroft fails to deliver in return". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
3. "Bancroft smacks 138 on FC return in Sheffield". 24 February 2019.
4. Cameron Bancroft player profile – Cricinfo. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
5. Bancroft fashions Australia U-19 win – Cricinfo. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
6. Records: ICC Under-19 World Cup, 2012 – Australia Under-19s (Young Cricketers) – Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
7. Bancroft, Steketee take Australia to final – Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
8. "India tour of Australia, 3rd T20I: Australia v India at Sydney, Jan 31, 2016". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
9. "Australia confirm Ashes Test squad". Cricket.com.au. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
10. "Bancroft has 'fire in belly' for Ashes debut". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
11. "Australia races to 10-wicket victory". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
12. Graham, Chris (25 March 2018). "A national day of shame': How Australia reacted to Cameron Bancroft ball-tampering scandal..." The Telegraph. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
13. "Cameron Bancroft at centre of alleged ball-tampering row". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
14. "Cameron Bancroft: Australia player admits to ball-tampering, Steve Smith knew in advance". BBC Sport. 24 March 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
15. "Bancroft, Smith admit to ball tampering". Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
16. Barrett, Chris (24 March 2018). "Dark day for Australian cricket as Steve Smith admits plan to cheat". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
17. "This is Australia's moment of truth". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
18. "Steven Smith banned for one Test, Bancroft given three demerit points". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
19. "Australian cricket ball tampering scandal: Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft only players involved, leave for Australia". NZ Herald. 27 March 2018. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
20. "CA launches ball tampering probe". Retrieved 28 March 2018.
21. "Trio suspended by Cricket Australia". Retrieved 28 March 2018.
22. "CA slaps bans on tampering trio". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
23. "Cameron Bancroft: Australia batsman will not join Somerset after ball-tampering scandal". BBC Sport. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
24. "Cameron Bancroft makes two on Big Bash return after ban for ball-tampering". BBC Sport. 30 December 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
25. "Hurricanes bowlers help them extend unbeaten run". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
26. "Live Scores: Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Sixers Men". new-mc-refresh.cricket.com.au. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
27. "Bancroft just short of Waugh's epic record". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
28. "Cameron Bancroft 'is a different person now' - Marcus North on Durham captaincy call". ESPNcricinfo. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
29. "Smith backs Bancroft as leader". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
30. "Bancroft hammers 151 on Durham debut". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
31. "Australia name 17-man Ashes squad". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
32. "Bancroft, Wade and Mitchell Marsh earn Ashes call-ups". ESPNcricinfo. 26 July 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2019.

External links

• Cameron Bancroft at ESPNcricinfo