PAINE A BIG FAN OF BANCROFT
AUSTRALIA’S Test captain Tim Paine wants more hardnosed cricketers like Cameron Bancroft.
The West Australian jumped a queue of batsmen to be picked in a 14-man squad for the first Test against Pakistan starting on Thursday.
Bancroft was initially overlooked for an Australia A game against the tourists this week, but was summoned when Nic Maddinson withdrew because of mental health reasons. Bancroft, considered a specialist opener, was batted at No.6 and top-scored with 49 as Australia A was bowled out for 122.
“He has come from outside the Australia A side and I guess showed his mettle when guys were falling around him,” Paine said of Bancroft.
“We know that is what Bangers is — he is a tough, competitive cricketer. And I think it’s great that we have got a few guys like that. And we want more of them.
“There’s no secret Bangers had a little bit of a tough time and has had some strange dismissals this year, but he has got the temperament to be an excellent Test cricketer.”
Paine warned against reading too much into Australia A’s struggles for runs in the Perth tour game against Pakistan.
Bancroft said yesterday it
STEVE LARKIN
was a nice surprise to earn a Test recall, even though it’s only likely to be as a designated concussion safeguard.
Bancroft is unlikely to play unless a teammate gets concussed during either of the two Tests. Joe Burns will partner David Warner at the top of the order, while Travis Head is set to bat in the middle order.
That would leave Bancroft on the fringes — unless he is needed mid-match. Marnus Labuschagne was in the same position during the Ashes — forced to spectate before replacing a concussed Steve
Smith during the second Test. Labuschagne has since established himself as a regular in the Test XI. Bancroft believes players who offer flexibility will become the go-to option to be the concussion standby.
“I think that’s probably the way the game has had to evolve a little bit,” Bancroft said. “Marnus was a great example during the Ashes. He was able to come in and have a really big impact in that game.
“You [need to] be as flexible as you can, you need resources in your team to be flexible for whatever happens.”