Australia’s latest Test cricketer, Cameron Bancroft, is one of the most well-rounded batsmen in the country, raised on bouncy WACA decks, experienced on seaming English pitches, and with success against spin in Asia.
Two months ago, Bancroft made 206 not out and 72 in an English county match, and just over two years ago he scored 150 on a Chennai dustbowl for Australia A against a strong India A line-up.
His success across a variety of conditions is good news for Australia, given England and Asia are the two places their Test batting line-up has struggled most in recent years.
The batting unit is often mocked as ‘flat-track bullies’ due to regularly flopping in bowler-friendly conditions. Too many of their batsmen have been imperious on hard, true, home pitches, only to be exposed once the ball seams, swings or spins appreciably.
There clearly is a need to promote batsmen who have shown the talent, technique and temperament to adapt to foreign conditions. In Bancroft, they may just have such a batsman.
At only 25 years of age, he has already played a lot of cricket in England, including 16 first-class county matches, ten second XI county matches, seven T20 Blast games, and a full season in the Derbyshire Premier League back in 2013.
(AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)
Like many Australian batsmen, Bancroft initially struggled in the Old Dart, where the pitches offer far more seam movement and the Dukes ball swings much further than the Kookaburra version.
In his first season in the County Championship, last year, Bancroft made just 192 runs at 21. As he became more familiar with the conditions during his second season, his returns improved, and he completed the campaign strongly to finish with 685 runs at 40.
This was far from a standout season, but county cricket can be a difficult environment for overseas batsmen. In the same division as Bancroft this year, Indian star Cheteshwar Pujara averaged only 27 from eight matches, despite being the ICC’s fourth-ranked batsman in the world, with a Test average of 53.
Bancroft’s experience across these county stints will hold him in great stead should he manage to earn a place in the next Ashes, in England, just over 18 months from now. As he piled up runs in the Shield this summer, Bancroft showcased attributes which are key to thriving in such conditions: he doesn’t commit too early to the front or back foot, and he plays the ball very late, right under his eye-line and with soft hands.
He has also displayed the assured approach against spin, which helped him dominate in India for Australia A. It was that sterling performance which vaulted him into the Australian squad in Bangladesh two years ago, before the series was cancelled.
(AAP Image/Mal Fairclough)
With 224 runs at 75 in that two-match red ball series, Bancroft outscored the likes of Indian Test players Pujara (119 runs at 29), Virat Kohli (61 runs at 30), Karun Nair (104 runs at 26), Abhinav Mukund (123 runs at 31) and Shreyas Iyer (122 runs at 30).
His return was particularly impressive given the series was low scoring and played on dustbowl pitches. The parched surfaces favoured spinners so heavily that Australian Gurinder Sandhu gave up bowling pace and had significant success with his off breaks, taking five wickets.
In the second match, Bancroft grafted for more than six hours as he made a match-winning score of 150. The West Australian quelled the threat of quality left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha, who has taken 113 Test wickets for India.
In the first match, Bancroft made 51 opposed to both Ojha and gifted leg-spinner Amit Mishra, who has 156 international wickets for India.
He has highlighted again and again in the Shield that he is one of Australia’s finest players of spin. His swift, confident footwork allows him to get to the pitch of the ball, and when he plays from the crease he is quick to read the length and seize upon anything a touch short.
It is rare for an Australian opening batsman to possess such natural ease against spin. This could come in handy when Australia tour the UAE for three Tests against Pakistan early in 2019.
First, however, Bancroft has to show that he can survive against England’s fine pace attack in the Ashes. That, in itself, will be a massive challenge.
Bakkies
Guest
It's worth a look at Cricketing Yorkshire a Sky documentary they did when Dizzy was coaching there. The coach is quiet busy organising sessions, providing career advice, doing the media duties, giving players a kick in the teeth, deciding players immediate futures. Effectively takes the weight off the captain. Cricket is too captain focussed and a lot of players have struggled with their form while performing the role. Mark Taylor couldn't buy a run for two years, Tendulkar and Lara couldn't handle the position. You don't get as much privacy and room to breathe while captain
GutFeel
Roar Rookie
Imran did in fact play test matches as a batsman only (when injury stopped him bowling). He’d be a handy batsman to slot into the current Australian 6.
Jarijari
Roar Rookie
Funny how Steve Smith picked up his game -- by his own account -- after he started wandering across the crease during the WACA Test four years ago. Before that he had an average of 27 in Australia. Since then he's hit 10 centuries at an average of 80 at home. Talk about ignoring the textbooks.
Don Freo
Guest
By what measure? (Now you'll have to think.)
Don Freo
Guest
The rankings system indicates nothing. It just documents recent series. The moment we cane the Poms, we jump again. Far more interesting just to watch the cricket than worry about rankings. It's not like it's an AFL season or a Shield season. It's not even a season.
Pedro the Maroon
Guest
Some of us - all of us - many of us - have proclaimed each new test pick as the next big thing. Poor old (young) Hilton Cartwright.
George
Guest
Stokes is twice the player of either of your Marsh idols.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
What do the current test ratings mean? Is the number one ranked team (India) the best test team in the world or merely the one with the schedule that works the best for them? Since 2013, India have played 15 completed series with a 16th in progress currently. After losing away series in South Africa, New Zealand, England and Australia, India have only played a single series away from the subcontinent. That being a series in the West Indies. This latest series is the ninth time from their last 10 series where this Indian side are playing on familiar, subcontinental conditions. I guess that was the BCCI's response to four consecutive away series losses. Just don't play away anymore... Problem solved.
George
Guest
Spot on.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Joe Burns is another who in recent years chose to gain experience in England over the smash and grab 20/20 offerings. It hasn't helped him any as far as continued test selection is concerned but the value he placed on red ball cricket in foreign conditions was noticed by some. Of course, that experience alone doesn't put runs on the scoreboard and Burns hasn't scored enough to grab selectors attention. Bancroft certainly did and I look forward to him getting this opportunity, a couple of years later than originally planned. I never really thought Joe was right for the opening spot. He always looked a more natural middle order player to me. That open-bladed driving just doesn't scream out "Opening against the swinging ball".
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Keep producing flat test pitches in Australia and the oncoming disaster will be greater than a couple of injured bowlers.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Tend to agree. While I am not a massive S Marsh fan, there have been times when his selection was lest warranted than now. I personally believe Maxwell was harshly done by after his maiden test hundred during the Indian tour. That type of innings used to be worth more than its present-day currency. It seems the a*se has fallen out of the away test century market. I can concede that Shaun is batting well, scoring runs and his name should have been in the selection discussion. Some will never believe Shaun Marsh should be in the test side. No amount of runs from his bat will change that. As I type this, I see news that Marsh has injured his back and may not be able to play. With Maxwell covering Warner's neck injury, any chance selectors will rush another specialist batsman to cover the Marsh injury? Surely, they have Mitch on speed dial? ;)
Brian
Guest
Yeah but wasnt renshaw bradman in waiting a few months ago. Lets see how he goes its not like the top 7 are impossible to replace at this point. We are 5th in the world. Dont kbow how far rankings go but i doubt we have ever been worse
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
"Didn’t we say this about Burns (who has considerable O/S experience), Renshaw, Handscomb …" Didn't we say what?
Jameswm
Guest
Correct. Hadlee, Imran and Dev wold not have made their side as a batsman.
David
Guest
Let's just see how he goes in the first test before we label him as "Australia’s next great Test batsman".
Don Freo
Guest
Marsh bowls that fast heavy ball. Has an excellent reverse swing yorker and a nice little nibbling outie at pace. I'd say his variety has him ahead. It will be interesting to see how their batting goes this year. Marsh has begun brilliantly and Wildermuth is really needed by Qld to deliver with the bat while Lynn is injured and Ussie is caning the Poms.
Rob JM
Guest
Its not easy to get a gig with a county club unless you have english heritage like hanscomb.
Rob JM
Guest
Who do you think is a better bowler don, marsh or wildermuth?
Don Freo
Guest
That's your definition of an all rounder...not a fair one. Probably only Al Hasan fits that description in world cricket. Stokes, considered the best right now, would never be picked only as a bowler and would only get a game as a batsman on the form of this last year and the fact England has very weak batsmen. This is not an argument for Mitch's selection. I think he should be expected to win his place back (he will).