Stunning demise of Aussie Test contender laid bare as horror run destroys recall hopes

When he was picked for Australia A to play two games against India A, Cameron Bancroft was seriously being considered for a Test recall with an opener’s spot available.

Now the 10-Test batter, who will long be remembered for his involvement in the sandpaper scandal in South Africa could struggle to hold his spot for Western Australia after another failure added to a gloomy domestic summer which has netted just 167 runs from 14 innings, at a dire average of just 12.

Bancroft was dismissed for 12 on day one of the Sheffield Shield clash with Victoria, coming off four in a one-day game, and scores of 3, 0, 0 and 16 in four innings in the Australia A clash billed as an audition for a Test opening spot.

He wasn’t the only WA batter to struggle, however, as Victorian spinner Todd Murphy – Test star Nathan Lyon’s understudy – took 4-37 from 15 overs to help roll the visitors for just 167.

Murphy’s haul came after he took also took four wickets in Victoria’s one-day win over WA on Tuesday.

Marcus Harris (40 not out) resumed his Junction Oval love affair as he took the Vics to 2-100 at stumps alongside the in-form Peter Handscomb.

WA opener Cameron Bancroft has endured the summer from hell so far. Picture: William West / AFP

The leading run-scorer in the Sheffield Shield for the past two seasons, Bancroft has suddenly fallen a long way down the pecking order when it comes to a national call-up, with Australian legendary Ricky Ponting declaring boom teenager Sam Konstas would be playing Test cricket “within 18 months”.

That’s a time-frame which could coincide with the international retirement of Test opener Usman Khawaja, who turns 37 in December but has signalled his intent to bat on to the 2025-26 Ashes in Australia.

Queensland selectors moved Matt Renshaw back to the opening position for the Bulls to give him the best chance of earning a Test recall, but he didn’t even make the Australia A squad and has just 69 runs in four Shield innings this summer.

Renshaw was forced to wait until Saturday for his chance to improve on that start, after Tasmanian opener Jake Weatherald blasted a magnificent unbeaten 185 at Allan Border Field.

It was the left-hander’s 10th first-class century and his first for the Tigers after he struggled on the fringes of the side last season following his move from South Australia.

Tasmanian opener Jake Weatherald celebrates his breakthrough hundred for South Australia – his 10th in first-class cricket. Picture: Bradley Kanaris / Getty Images

The Tigers romped to 3-358 when bad light stopped play on day one, with Jake Doran (89 not out) within reach of a ton and Tim Ward (51) back in the runs following his recall at No. 3.

Queensland had regained Mark Steketee from an ankle issue, but felt the absence of hamstrung attack leader Michael Neser as second-gamer Tom Whitney (2-103 off 16 overs) was the only bowler to claim multiple scalps.

In Adelaide, another former Test batter and one-time NSW captain Kurtis Patterson made 71 to put his team in control of their match against South Australia.

Having bowled the Redbacks out for just 110 on day one, NSW posted 394 before veteran quick Jackson Bird wasted no time claiming his eighth wicket of the match.

After taking a remarkable 7-46 on Thursday, Bird had Conor McInerney out thanks to a sharp catch from Sam Konstas at bat-pad which left the home side 1-20, still 264 runs behind at Karen Rolton Oval.