Cameron Bancroft insists a specialist opener would be best placed to take over from the retiring David Warner, believing experience at the top is crucial in the difficult role.
Australia have named an unchanged 13-man squad for this week’s third Test against Pakistan at the SCG, but crunch time is coming in the quest to replace Warner as he bids farewell to the Test arena.
Bancroft remains one of the leading contenders, with selectors set to make a decision ahead of the Adelaide Test against West Indies on January 17.
Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw can also make a fair claim for the job, but coach Andrew McDonald has refused to rule out going with a non-specialist opener instead.
McDonald on Saturday left the door ajar for Cameron Green to replace Warner, while another batter could theoretically shift to the top to accommodate Green’s return.
But when asked whether it would be an easier job for a specialist opener, Bancroft was adamant that was the case.
“Yeah, absolutely,” he told AAP.
“I’ve opened the batting in Shield cricket for over 10 years. It’s not an easy place to bat.
“It comes with challenges, and my whole career I’ve problem-solved trying to find ways to flourish in those sort of circumstances.
“Some players have switched and gone and opened the batting and done really well. But not everyone puts their hand up to go and open the batting.
“I feel like it probably is a specialist position and it’s certainly a really challenging one. But a very rewarding one as well.”
Bancroft’s comments come after Ricky Ponting, Justin Langer and Mike Hussey each made similar arguments this week.
If Australia do go with a specialist opener, Bancroft has made the strongest case of any contender in recent years.
Cameron Bancroft bats for Australia A. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
He was the leading run-scorer in last summer’s Sheffield Shield with 945 runs at an average of 59.06, and again tops this season’s charts with 512 at 56.88.
Harris and Renshaw have both been part of Australian squads in that time, while Bancroft has not featured since being dropped during a poor 2019 Ashes.
“I’ve had some conversations (with selectors) over the last 12 months or so and asked some questions about what I can do to improve,” Bancroft said.
“I’m always looking to improve and get better. I wanted that feedback from them.
“But I guess it always comes down to scoring runs, so I’ve just tried to go out and do the best I can no matter what format of the game that I’ve been playing.”
Bancroft is also hopeful runs in the BBL will help his cause, with the Sydney Thunder to play games against Hobart and Perth before the Adelaide Test.
The opener is the competition’s second leading run-scorer, with 181 from his opening five games.
“Runs are runs,” Bancroft said.
“There’s no red-ball cricket, obviously. So coming out and playing in the Big Bash is the format of the game that I can play in right now.
“Selectors have always talked about players scoring runs and things like that, and that runs count. And I’d agree with that.
“Anyone that’s in a position to go to the next level, you want them to be scoring runs. I’ve just tried to tried to do that no matter what format of the game.
“Hopefully that puts me in a position to be selected.”
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
That doesn't alter the reality for Green, Boland and Murphy that Cummins' refusal to use them in the Ashes has been a major setback to the careers of each of them. The public calls it a loss of form; it was, in fact, a captain who preferred his mates...and almost lost the Ashes.
Cam
Roar Rookie
If Test results from the past 18 months are anything to go by, Cummins won't be having the armband removed anytime soon. George Bailey is a fan, and he is the head of selectors, so there is every chance he will find himself in the team vs West Indies. The fact he has been travelling with the squad through the Pakistan series probably indicates the decision was made a month or so ago. I'd like to see Bancroft get the gig.
StevieJ
Roar Rookie
Have to agree - headline of this article is really misleading.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
His performances were on the board at Shield level (averages almost 50 with the bat) when he was picked. They are still very good. His last 3 visits to the crease have been 47, 96 and 48. His last bowl at first class level was 17 overs for 22 runs and his previous bowl, 3 months ago, he was Australia's most economical bowler in the whole World Cup. The only thing holding him back is Pat Cummins' captaincy.
Cam
Roar Rookie
Mitch Marsh has also had to bat with the tail and is averaging almost 70 from his last 10 innings. Cam Green may end up to be a test player for the ages, but I reckon he was picked about 5 or 6 years too early.
Cam
Roar Rookie
Good graph and clarifies my gut feel that over 35's were making more runs than the U25's.
Good Grief
Roar Rookie
Wow, I feel for Bancroft having to publicly wave his own flag and point to his runs on the board over the past two seasons. This after Warner has publicly backed Harris! I bet Bancroft appreciated that, thanks Davey! And… a couple of thoughts: the selection has nothing to do with sandpaper-gate, we know this because Bancroft already had another run in the Australian team since then and was dropped based on performance. Harris has had multiple opportunities and just has not done well enough to retain any position in the top 6. I really feel for Harris because he has toured with the test squad as “next man up” and missed playing so much cricket as have many before him. Likewise Renshaw has had a couple of periods in the Australian team and didn’t deserve to be dropped last time around, but has had every chance to make his case with consistent runs in domestic cricket since and just has not been consistent enough to demand selection. No one is knocking the door down and demanding selection as opening batter, all three prospects have already had multiple opportunities at test level. The selectors perpetual search for a genuine all rounder continues, the selectors and coaches are looking for any opportunity to shoehorn Green into the 11 as a long term test player and the word I have is that there is a belief that Green’s batting technique is “correct” enough for him to succeed as an opening bat. I expect we will find out soon enough… and if it doesn’t work out Harris, Renshaw and Bancroft will still be available for selection in 12 months.
Redcap
Roar Guru
No content (or point).
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Plenty of content.
Barb Dwyer
Roar Rookie
Bancroft has also admitted to his involvement several times. He is responsible.
Barb Dwyer
Roar Rookie
He has accepted responsibility – so he is guilty. But there are many posters whose default position is to immediately blame someone else (eg: Warner, bowlers, admin, etc) when the evidence on this is not clear yet. What we do know is that Bancroft is an adult and that he had choices. He made a poor choice that of course he can come back from but right now, the general public doesn’t know the degree of leverage Warner actually placed on Bancroft. I hope he plays test cricket again but I suspect it’s a 50/50 at the moment. He is a very good player.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Vacuous.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Obtuse.
Redcap
Roar Guru
So, in other words, you don't have a point. That's fine Don - I wasn't expecting anything.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Absolutely no doubt that Bancroft has accepted responsibility. The rest of the team, not so much.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Yes, you do miss the point; deliberately so, I suspect.
liquorbox_
Roar Rookie
It would only be unfair because of other players being allowed to come back into the team, not that he is banned due to his actions.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
A pure hypothetical here. Who is most likely to have some abrasive paper in his kit? Someone with an old bat who likes to get rid of the ball marks from their extensive stay in the middle, a fidgeter or a bludgeoner? Or a newbie with a brand-new bit of willow? Or even a bowler who likes to scuff the soles of his boots? It doesn't matter that the action taken had no discernible effect.It was the intent that has caused all this grief.
Barb Dwyer
Roar Rookie
No I did, there were 2 different posts - apologies. The village story does seem apt. Western society also has a concept of personal responsibility; it could go either way.
Redcap
Roar Guru
It happened. It's unlikely they would report it if they knew some or all of what was happening, which seems likely. Even assuming such things, I'm not sure what your point is - what the 'Cartel' didn't do doesn't change what did happen.