Bancroft Test recall gaining steam as teammate joins shouts

by Admin
October 7, 2024

Western Australia teammate Hilton Cartwright is the latest voice to throw their support behind Cameron Bancroft’s push to return to the Test team.

Cartwright, speaking ahead of WA’s first Sheffield Shield match of the season against Queensland at the WACA Ground on Tuesday, said he saw the value in picking a specialist opener at the top of the order.

It comes after WA legend Mike Hussey told The West Australian he wanted Bancroft and State captain Sam Whiteman to be considered to bat alongside Usman Khawaja in the five-Test series against India this summer.

Debate is raging over where former captain Steve Smith will bat in Australia’s side, with the prodigious batter appearing to go cold on what now could be a short-lived stint as an opener.

Smith opened the batting for Australia against West Indies in two Tests and New Zealand in two matches at the end of last summer.

And the national team is still sweating on the fitness of star all-rounder Cam Green, who was sent for scans last week on an injured back.

It is understood Green is no certainty to play The West Test at Optus Stadium from November 22.

That could open the door for Smith to slide back to his more familiar No.4 position and Bancroft to make a long-awaited Test return.

“I’ve grown up playing with Cam a lot, I’ve seen the hard work he’s put in, that’s not secret,” Cartwright said.

“I think he’s been one of the best if not the best-performing batter — especially opener — over the last three or four years, so I’d love to see him up there.

“Some people see it differently and that’s just the way it crumbles sometimes, but I’m all for Bangers being in that role.”

Bancroft, who will turn 32 this summer, has played 10 Tests for Australia, but not since the 2019 Ashes series.

Cartwright was firm in his belief opening the batting is a position that needs to be filled by a career opener.

“I think being an opening batter is one of the toughest gigs as a cricketer, and he has shown he is probably the best batter, and he’s been batting in the hardest position,” he said.

“I do think there’s a specialist position for it. It’s just so unique how they play, how the ball plays, and the way the wickets play.”

Bancroft will open the batting for WA against Queensland this week in a golden audition to push for a return.

WA men’s player Hilton Cartwright. Credit: Riley Churchman/The West Australian

Test incumbents Marnus Labuschagne and Khawaja will play for Queensland, as will Matthew Renshaw, who is also considered a candidate to open the batting.

“I would put Bangers in there,” Hussey told The West this week.

“I feel like Cam Green and Mitch Marsh should be fighting for the same spot as the all-rounder.

“They are obviously pretty keen to get Cam Green in there and play as much cricket as he can in that middle order or batting at No. 4. So they have shown their hand there, and Mitch Marsh is just playing unbelievable cricket.

“But, I felt like Bancroft deserved a chance (last summer) because he had scored the most number of runs in Shield cricket for a number of years, not just six months or a year. I felt for him.”