Cameron Bancroft will miss a golden opportunity to press his claims for a recall to the Test team after he was ruled out of the Sheffield Shield final due to a cycling accident.
The 31-year-old fell off his bike on Sunday and after being diagnosed with a concussion he has been omitted from the team to face Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield final at the WACA Ground in Perth from Thursday.
Bancroft has been one of the leading run-scorers at domestic level for the past three seasons and was controversially overlooked for a Test recall when David Warner retired in January.
With makeshift opener Steve Smith and veteran Usman Khawaja struggling at the top of the order in their four Tests together against the West Indies and New Zealand, there is a chance the selectors could be looking to bring in an experienced specialist like Bancroft next summer for the five-match home series against India.
All-rounder Aaron Hardie has given WA a boost by declaring he is fit to play.
Bancroft missed out to Tasmania all-rounder Beau Webster, who was named the Sheffield Shield’s player of the season on Tuesday.
Webster edged out Bancroft, NSW batter Ollie Davies and Western Australia quick Joel Paris to clinch the award, which is determined by tallying umpire votes across the home-and-away season.
Cameron Bancroft. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
The 30-year-old scored three centuries, including an unbeaten 167 against Victoria earlier this month.
With the season’s final match looming, he is the Shield’s leading scorer with 914 runs at 65.28.
Bancroft, second on the scoring charts, finished more than 100 behind on 778 for the home-and-away season.
Webster has also been ladder-leading Tasmania’s second-highest wicket taker this summer with 26 at an average of 28.46, and enjoyed career-best figures of 4-32 against South Australia in October.
with AAP
Pierro
Roar Rookie
No don don’t change the narrative to suit yourself and twist the reader.. I said ussie summer Av 40 was spot on . Stop changing it because once again you were wrong and caught out literally ,same old same , don wrong again and you can’t stand it so you manipulate it on here . Busted again don
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
DR the Donald is beyond reasonable conversation. Just forces his opinion on anyone who will listen
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Try their current form. Last 10 innings. You don't seem to understand what an average indicates. It doesn't mean they have scored 40 runs each of their last 10 innings.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Smith average 44 over summer series . Ussie 40 average so spot on Don . These are reasonable home deck averages despite them being higher in the past . Don wrong yet Again
Ace
Roar Rookie
I was calm. Just answering your question which you may have phrased better I'm not sure if you follow shield cricket that closely but if you did you would know that one player has captained Australia this year and another is the cricketer of the year and others have repented Australia and Australia A teams These details can be looked up It's a bit like their basketball team playing off in the current grand final of the NBL Or having two top picks (top 5)in the AFL draft this year Most of it comes down to knowing you play for each other when you play for Tassy
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Ive liked Whiteman for a long time over the years very consistent, off the top of my head he had a more mediocre year or two recently but he's back at it again . The test would be could he tour well in different conditions he certainly goes well in perth and aus in general
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Sgt i forgot its the world according to garp, i mean don
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Calm down. Just surprised to see them there with the quality of their lineup. It’s actually pretty good to have a team from a population that size with 5 or 6 locals in it.
jammel
Roar Rookie
Bancroft very very unlucky imo. But - Sam Whiteman might just be next cab off the rank in terms of opening in Tests!!
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Gee Sarge, get out of bed on the wrong side this arvo? I think Don is saying that you're only as good,or bad, as your last couple of seasons. Which is why he,along with others ,not just from this side of the RPF, reckon that Bancroft should be opening for Australia. Not right now you understand, concussion and all that. And that the top six for Australia, excepting Cam Green,of course ,should have their places scrutinized.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
When Don says 'forget stats' what he means is that the stats don't agree with whatever garbage he's banging on about. Facts don't get in the way of Donald's
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
...and Connolly and Short.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
WA five down. Tasmania well in this. If Freeman has three with his offies, what will Rocchiocoli be like?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Cooper Connolly’s two first shots: 4, 6. His 6th ball went for 4 as has his 8th ball. A bit of a future. Looks like David Hookes and plays like David Hookes. His last two Premier cricket innings as captain of Scarborough: 180no and, in last week’s semi final 67no. He just sent his 11th ball for 6. Watch the Kayo highlights folk.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
541000 vs 2.5 million. Stobo and Gannon as the auxiliaries for WA. How many recruits for Tasmania? Short did his job. Whiteman and Cartwright powering along. Bonus points in view.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Hilton Cartwright is single-handedly bumping the run rate from 3 to 4 an over. The bonus points situation is a game within the game.
jammel
Roar Rookie
Yeah Shield Final on. Methinks the Taswegians might struggle.
jammel
Roar Rookie
no thread on the Roar on the Shield Final today? I am surprised.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Ah well, if they are not going to pick Banners, Cam has endorsed Sam Whiteman and he is looking pretty good today.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
From memory? You're wrong.