Former Australian opener Cameron Bancroft remains motivated for a long-awaited Test recall despite revealing he has not spoke to national coach Andrew McDonald recently.
The 32-year-old, who received a nine-month ban from Cricket Australia in 2018 for his involvement in the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal, made the most recent of his ten Test appearances during the 2019 Ashes campaign in England, dropped in favour fellow opener Marcus Harris following the second match at Lord’s.
The West Australian, the Sheffield Shield’s highest run-scorer during the 2022/23 summer, was one of the leading candidates to replace Steve Smith as Test opener ahead of last season’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy courtesy of his impeccable domestic form.
However, Bancroft struggled for runs at the start of the 2024/25 summer, posting scores of 0, 0, 8, 2, 12 and 11 in the Sheffield Shield before notching 0, 16, 3, 0 during the Australia A series against India, a de facto Test audition.
National selectors ultimately favoured the uncapped Nathan McSweeney for the opening duties against India before teenage opener Sam Konstas took over the role for the Boxing Day Test, cracking an entertaining half-century on international debut.
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“Timing wasn’t great,” Bancroft told BBC’s Stumped podcast when asked about the form slump.
“Also the reality is form comes and goes, runs come and go. That’s just cricket.”
“I have never spoken to Andrew McDonald,” he continued, adding that he has often been in contact with chief selector George Bailey.
“(McDonald) has never spoken to me either. Understandably his focus is with the Australia team and that absolutely makes sense.”
Asked if he believed the ball-tampering saga was a factor in his non-selection, Bancroft responded: “I would like to think not.
“I have just been outside of that environment.
“The coaches have been focused on the team and the players involved.
“It is difficult to communicate with everybody.”
Last month, Bancroft got his County Championship campaign with Gloucestershire underway with a stylish 163 in a drawn contest against Glamorgan in Bristol. However, the right-hander has since posted 2, 22, 0 and 43 in red-ball matches against Kent and Leicestershire.
Konstas was dropped from the nation side ahead of Australia’s recent Test tour of Sri Lanka, creating intrigue over who will partner Usman Khawaja for next month’s World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s.
“Of course (an Australia recall) is something that motivates me,” Bancroft continued.
“I just try and go about my business and enjoy playing wherever I am, giving 100 per cent to each ball and moment.
“I know the way cricket works. It is still a driving force. I am just looking to enjoy my cricket and do my best.”
Gloucestershire will next face Lancashire at Manchester’s Old Trafford from Friday.
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