Finch tells Bancroft to persevere

Under-fire Australian Test opener Cameron Bancroft has been urged to stick to his batting plans despite his “very soft” first innings dismissal in Durban.

Already under pressure to hold his spot after lean returns in five Ashes Tests, Bancroft was out for just five on the first day against South Africa after walking down the wicket to Proteas seamer Vernon Philander and edging a delivery to the keeper.

His opening partner David Warner conceded Bancroft’s dismissal was “very soft” and calls have come already for dumped batsman Matt Renshaw to get on a plane to Africa.

But Aussie one-day opener Aaron Finch, fresh off a matchwinning 151 not out for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield, said Bancroft should not be deterred by his ugly exit.

“He had a pretty clear game plan against Philander last night and it didn’t work, but I really hope he sticks to that and plays the way he has planned in his head,” said Finch, who will captain Victoria against NSW in the second last round of the Sheffield Shield starting today.

“That’s sometimes the hardest thing, when you have a plan in your head you get out committing to that plan. It’s easy to go away from it quickly.

“But if he has committed to that plan, he’s obviously trained for it, I’m sure he’ll get rewarded.

“He would have practised for hours and hours in the lead-up, and I read he practised with (Aussie bowler) Chadd Sayers who is a similar bowler to Vernon..”

Warner, who was out for 51 on the last ball before lunch, said the batsmen had discussed using their feet to try to combat the swing of the Proteas bowling attack, just like Bancroft did.

“We spoke about as a batting group and together about trying to use your crease a little bit, and trying to negate if there’s a bit of swing, or get a bit of doubt in the bowler’s mind,” he said.

Bancroft has passed 27 only once in his nine Test innings.