Cameron Bancroft
Personal information
Full name
Cameron Timothy Bancroft
Born (1992-11-19) 19 November 1992
Attadale, Western Australia
NicknameBanners
Height1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm off break
RoleWicket-keeper-batter
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 451)23 November 2017 v England
Last Test14 August 2019 v England
Only T20I (cap 79)31 January 2016 v India
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2011/12–presentWestern Australia
2014/15–2022/23Perth Scorchers
2016–2017Gloucestershire
2019–2021Durham
2023Somerset
Career statistics
Competition Test T20I FC LA
Matches 10 1 146 85
Runs scored 446 0 9,449 2,777
Batting average 26.23 – 39.04 42.07
100s/50s 0/3 0/0 25/34 4/19
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/– 1/0 211/1 67/2
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 9 December 2023

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

As a result of a Cricket Australia investigation into a ball tampering incident during the 3rd Test against South Africa in March 2018, Bancroft and two others, captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner, 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 was banned from any leadership role in Australian cricket for an additional year.[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 cricket for Western Australia, Bancroft played several under-19 Tests and One Day Internationals for the Australia Under-19 cricket team, impressing after scoring three centuries, at an average of 50.90.[4][5] In August 2012, Bancroft played in the 2012 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, where he scored the second highest number of runs.[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 scored 5 and 82 not out to help 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 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 was banned from any leadership role for 1 year after the initial ban was completed.[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 cricket

Bancroft made a return to professional cricket on 30 December 2018, playing for the Perth Scorchers in the 2018–19 Big Bash League season.[2] In the match he scored 2 runs from three balls,[24] with the Hobart Hurricanes going on to win the game by 6 wickets.[25] Although 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 score of 87* against the Sydney Sixers, in which he was awarded man of the match.[26]

In February 2019 Bancroft returned to first-class cricket, playing for Western Australia against New South Wales in the 2018–19 Sheffield Shield. He made an unbeaten 138 in the first innings and 86 in the 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]

Later in the year he was appointed as captain of Durham County Cricket Club in England for the 2019 season.[28] While the move to make him captain was criticised by some 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 debut for Durham, Bancroft scored 150 not out off 130 balls against Northamptonshire.[30] The aftermath of the scandal and the challenges of returning to professional cricket took a toll on Cameron Bancroft's mental health. He openly discussed his struggles, shedding light on the pressures and expectations faced by professional athletes.[31]

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.[32][33] 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". Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Bancroft fails to deliver in return". Cricket Australia. Archived from the original on 30 December 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  3. ↑ "Bancroft smacks 138 on FC return in Sheffield". 24 February 2019. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  4. ↑ Cameron Bancroft player profile Archived 26 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine – Cricinfo. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
  5. ↑ Bancroft fashions Australia U-19 win Archived 6 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine – Cricinfo. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  6. ↑ Records: ICC Under-19 World Cup, 2012 – Australia Under-19s (Young Cricketers) Archived 6 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine – Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  7. ↑ Bancroft, Steketee take Australia to final Archived 6 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine – Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 August 2012.
  8. ↑ "India tour of Australia, 3rd T20I: Australia v India at Sydney, Jan 31, 2016". ESPN Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 9 June 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  9. ↑ "Australia confirm Ashes Test squad". Cricket.com.au. Archived from the original on 17 November 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  10. ↑ "Bancroft has 'fire in belly' for Ashes debut". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 7 July 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  11. ↑ "Australia races to 10-wicket victory". International Cricket Council. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. 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. Archived from the original on 25 March 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  13. ↑ "Cameron Bancroft at centre of alleged ball-tampering row". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 30 April 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  14. ↑ "Cameron Bancroft: Australia player admits to ball-tampering, Steve Smith knew in advance". BBC Sport. 24 March 2018. Archived from the original on 24 March 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  15. ↑ "Bancroft, Smith admit to ball tampering". Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 2 January 2019. 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. Archived from the original on 25 March 2018. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  17. ↑ "This is Australia's moment of truth". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  18. ↑ "Steven Smith banned for one Test, Bancroft given three demerit points". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 25 March 2018. 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. Archived from the original on 28 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  20. ↑ "CA launches ball tampering probe". Archived from the original on 7 May 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  21. ↑ "Trio suspended by Cricket Australia". Archived from the original on 28 March 2018. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
  22. ↑ "CA slaps bans on tampering trio". cricket.com.au. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  23. ↑ "Cameron Bancroft: Australia batsman will not join Somerset after ball-tampering scandal". BBC Sport. 29 March 2018. Archived from the original on 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. Archived from the original on 30 December 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  25. ↑ "Hurricanes bowlers help them extend unbeaten run". ESPN Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 31 December 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.
  26. ↑ "Live Scores: Perth Scorchers vs Sydney Sixers Men". new-mc-refresh.cricket.com.au. Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  27. ↑ "Bancroft just short of Waugh's epic record". cricket.com.au. Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  28. 1 2 "Cameron Bancroft 'is a different person now' - Marcus North on Durham captaincy call". ESPNcricinfo. 1 April 2019. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
  29. ↑ "Smith backs Bancroft as leader". cricket.com.au. Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  30. ↑ "Bancroft hammers 151 on Durham debut". cricket.com.au. Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  31. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  32. ↑ "Australia name 17-man Ashes squad". cricket.com.au. Archived from the original on 26 July 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
  33. ↑ "Bancroft, Wade and Mitchell Marsh earn Ashes call-ups". ESPNcricinfo. 26 July 2019. Archived from the original on 29 July 2019. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
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