AUS vs WI: Cameron Bancroft Ignored Because Of 2018 Ball-Tampering Scandal? George Bailey Responds
George Bailey, who is the chief selector of the Australia National Cricket Team, has shushed all the conspiracy talks regarding Cameron Bancroft’s exclusion from the Test squad that will play West Indies this month. It was being conspired that Bancroft was ignored from the Test squad because of his involvement in the infamous sandpaper-gate scandal of 2018 during the Cape Town Test and his comments on the incident post the scandal.
Cameron Bancroft was comfortably the leading run-scorer in the Sheffield Shield last season and is again at the top of the run-scoring charts this summer. However, he still was unable to find a place in the squad against West Indies following veteran opener David Warner’s retirement. The management announced Steven Smith as the new opener whereas Matt Renshaw was named the backup opener for Australia. Cameron Green will be batting at No.4 in the Test series against the West Indies.
Cameron Bancroft has played just two Test matches since the upliftment of his ban. He featured in two Tests against England during the Ashes in 2019. The comments he made during an interview in 2021 where he talked about how the fast bowlers must have known what was going on during the ball-tampering incident led to them putting out a joint statement reiterating they did not know anything about it. The current Australian skipper Pat Cummins was also a part of the squad that played in that infamous Cape Town Test.
George Bailey Gives Reason For Not Adding Cameron Bancroft In The Squad Against West Indies
“Categorically, no,” Bailey responded to the question of any lingering issues of the ball-tampering incident affecting Bancroft’s selection in the squad, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo. “I’ve shared this with Cameron on a number of occasions. It has never at any stage been discussed from the panel’s perspective. It’s purely a cricketing decision.”
“There is not a member of the team that would have an issue with Cam playing, we certainly don’t have an issue with it. I’d be disappointed if people were looking to that as a reason. All I can do is reiterate to you and to Cam that’s not the case; never has been, and never will be.”
George Bailey acknowledged that Cameron Bancroft was knocking the selection door hard with the might of all the runs he scored in the last couple of seasons but the selection committee saw Matt Renshaw as the next-best batter in line. He also said that Marcus Harris who has a central contract with Australia could count himself unfortunate on missing out on the squad.
“Cam’s record over the last couple of years has been phenomenal and it’s made this decision really challenging a line-ball call,” Bailey said. “He is banging down the door. Think there’s a number of players who are banging down the door and that’s great.”
Cameron Bancroft has scored 512 runs in nine innings at an average of 56.89 in the ongoing Sheffield Shield season. He has smashed two centuries and three half-centuries this season. Cameron Bancroft was at his best during the 2022-23 season where he amassed 945 runs in 20 innings at an average of 59.06. He smashed four centuries in the season.
Australia recently defeated Pakistan 3-0 at home and now they will host West Indies in a two-match Test series starting from January 17 with the first Test to be played in Adelaide and the second one to be played at the Gabba in Brisbane. The Aussies are the defending WTC champions and are currently at the top of the WTC points table with a PCT of 56.25.
