Bancroft back on a better wicket

A buoyant Cameron Bancroft believes he is now in a positive frame of mind after grappling with the tumultuous ball-tampering scandal.

The 25-year-old played his first cricket match on WA soil on Saturday since copping a nine-month suspension from international and state cricket for his role in the Cape Town sandpaper saga.

Captaining his local club Willetton, Bancroft made just four runs in his team’s crushing nine-wicket one-day victory over Midland-Guildford but he starred in the field with three sharp catches in the slips, the highlight being a spectacular diving snare to his left.

Unlike banned former Australian team captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner, Bancroft has kept a low profile and stayed mostly away from cricket since being suspended.

Last month, the former Test opener was in Melbourne completing a yoga teaching training course.

“Learning to detach myself from this guy that was a professional cricketer ... it’s who I thought I was as a person,” Bancroft said.

“The more I have been able to let that go and understand who I am certainly breaks the anxiety that you put yourself under as a professional sportsman.

“Dealing with those challenges has been difficult, but part of the journey.”

Bancroft had to receive an exemption from the West Australian District Cricket Council to be allowed to play in the WA Premier Cricket League while serving his ban.

As captain, he has enjoyed mentoring his Willetton teammates.

“It’s an opportunity for me to give back,” he said.

“I had a lot of fun out there.”