Cameron Bancroft’s return to cricket has been decidedly emphatic.
After an impressive BBL campaign, his commanding performance this week for Western Australia has presented Australian selectors with a third option to partner David Warner in as opener in this year’s Ashes.
In a short time, Bancroft has put himself forward as a serious case.
The marathon 621-ball dual innings (the fourth-most in the Shield ever) was reminiscent of his 228* (351) for Western Australia in November 2017 which, nine days out from the Ashes, catapulted him into the first Test XI at The Gabba.
Without that innings, we may not be speaking about him like we are now. It was the catalyst for bigger things, just as this week could bet the catalyst for an Ashes ‘redemption’. And as we know with Bancroft, everything at this stage is about redemption.
Former Australian opening batsman Cameron Bancroft. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Perhaps the most pleasing aspect about Bancroft’s match at Bankstown Oval is that his bat finally did the ‘talking’. Prior and even right up to this week, Bancroft’s mouth has done it all. In fact, it’s done far too much.
It started with the ‘letter to himself’ in The West Australian prior to the Boxing Day Test. The cringe piece was at best self-indulgent, and at worst wholly out of touch. A clichéd redemption narrative was carefully spun, with pictures of him in yoga poses. “Yoga will teach you how to be true to yourself”, he wrote.
The letter, by itself, could be excused. The interview with Adam Gilchrist aired during the Test couldn’t. The singlet-clad, bearded Bancroft said he was ‘proud’ that he and Steve Smith fronted the cameras immediately after the ball-tampering incident.
He also said that, at 25, he was just a young player desperate to fit in and, perhaps most oddly, was ‘fascinated’ why people cared about how he carried out the ball-tampering. But we all did – he just couldn’t see it.
The interview, in many minds, showed that despite the yoga and community service, he hadn’t truly grasped why the public were so hurt by his (and his teammates’) actions.
And still, to this day, Bancroft doesn’t really get it. When interviewed on the weekend, he stood dogmatically by the letter and interview.
To him, his “sole intention” for doing them was to share his “powerful lessons” with the public. He wanted to “touch people through some parts of my journey”. He believes his redemptive path can inspire others.
People are inspired by tremendous feats of endurance in the face of adversity, of standing up to powerful institutions, and of initiating social change through brave campaigning. They aren’t touched by a cricketer who overcame an on-field misdemeanour, discovered yoga and returned to playing in nine months.
“If other people were triggered by that, I guess that is their battle to face,” the self-assured Bancroft said in the ABC interview. But no one was ‘triggered’. Confused, maybe. And I’d hazard a guess to say no one has a “battle to face” when deciding if his comments were inappropriate. They’ve already decided they were.
His rhetoric contrasts perhaps surprisingly with that of David Warner, who has strangely emerged with his head held most high of the banned trio. Warner has refused to talk (thus far) to media and allowed the public to make up its own mind – a pathway Bancroft should replicate.
Because in the end, he wasn’t dropped from the Australian team for form reasons. In fact, he was the highest Australian run-scorer in that fateful South Africa tour. He was dropped due to a warped view of what it meant to play cricket for Australia. Whether these views have been rectified remains an area of doubt.
Contrary to what Bancroft thinks, the public decides his path to ‘redemption’, not him. The more runs he scores, and the less he speaks to the press, the quicker that may eventuate.
VivGilchrist
Roar Rookie
He’s an inspiration.
Scotty
Guest
The sheer idiocy with which he has handled himself is astounding. His ego seems completely out of control, and he clearly isn't getting good advice. To then back this up by refuting Ponting, of all people is truly mind boggling. This is a bloke, that apart from being one of the most respected (if not the most respected) voices in Australian cricket, he is also a chance to coach him at some stage. 'That is their battle to face'. Really Cameron? Just wow. Where is that face palm emoji when you need one.......
matth
Roar Guru
I think his yoga interview and talking about others being inspired by his journey means it's not only the critics. Fact is, he has now done his time so it shouldn't really matter. He just needs to continue scoring runs.
Goody
Roar Rookie
Totally agree mate, it's as if he was owed his spot in the team and not something he had to continually earn
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Only the critics are framing it as a "redemptive narrative".
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
It is an excellent example of reflection. It is not an example of perfection or redemption. That's not what it was trying to do. It does reflect where he is at.
Jero
Roar Rookie
$$$$$.
Ouch
Roar Rookie
Surely what breaks his heart is that he cheated and let down his country. Doesn't appear that way.
Ouch
Roar Rookie
He's already been offered $1m for his story and declined
G Knight
Guest
"The thing that breaks my heart the most is the fact I’ve just given up my spot in the team to somebody else for free." These were the words Bancroft used in his first solo press conference after South Africa. I know it's hard to be critical given how emotional he would've been and may not have meant it like that. But those words never sat well with me. Surely what breaks his heart is that he cheated and let down his country.
The Bush
Roar Guru
CA let the team and coaches put up "Elite Honesty" in the change rooms as a slogan. I wouldn't say any of these guys are too good at understanding perceptions etc
Goody
Roar Rookie
could the ICC/ Cricket Australia have been that desperate for some positive press from this incident that they allowed Bancrofts self indulgent and naive thoughts to become a 'light at the end of the tunnel' story of hope? Warner said nothing and got on with the bat...although he never really showed remorse, just kept repeating his rank and badge number Smith wasn't that much better than Bancroft though, a Rexona ad set in a group therapy room?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Rust will break thru the bog.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
There is no indication that there is any ill feelings there at all. By all reports all three have had regular contact during the suspension period, especially Smith and Warner who have also spent plenty of time training together for NSW. Bancroft probably less largely for the two reasons that he hadn't been a team mate for as long, and therefore doesn't know the others as well, and that he's on the other side of the country.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Schools studying something doesn't necessarily mean it's a good thing. Could be an example of reflective writing that is critically judged by students and that includes what might or might not be good about it.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
What makes you think there is any bad blood between Smith and Warner. By all reports they get on well, and have had plenty to do with each other during the suspension.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Same with Smith's Vodafone advertisement. Not sure what him, or Vodafone, were trying to achieve with that!
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I must admit, the way he was batting in the BBL after coming back had me thinking that maybe he would come out and score a lot of runs once the Shield season started. He just looked like someone who's spent the last 9 months working hard on his game and come back better than he was before. Obviously he needs to pretty much score runs in every shield match to have a chance. But he also has a county contract, and the chance of getting onto the Australia A tour. Meaning he not only has a lot more first class chances before the Ashes than just these Shield matches, but ones that are meaningful for the Ashes, with all of them being with the Duke ball, and a number of them being in England.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Maybe it is him driving the narrative then. Because it's not exactly being driven well! Surely if people who really knew what they were doing were advising him then they'd not advise him to do what he's done to this point.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
He pretty much did the one he couldn't get away from doing. People complained about the fact that his one was delayed a day or two later than Smith and Bancroft's. He couldn't have got away with saying nothing at all. But he's been smart in not saying anything else since.