Cameron Bancroft, the 32-year-old opening batter, has revealed that he remains motivated to earn a recall to Australia’s Test side. However, he clarified that he has never spoken to head coach Andrew McDonald, who took over as coach in April 2022.

Bancroft, who last played for Australia in the 2019 Ashes series, was dropped after a string of poor performances in that summer. His return to the team had followed a nine-month ban for his involvement in the infamous ball-tampering scandal of 2018. Since then, he has been trying to regain a spot in the Test team, but has yet to get another call-up.

Bancroft’s Relationship with McDonald

When asked if he believes the ball-tampering scandal still factors into McDonald’s decision-making, Bancroft told the BBC’s Stumped podcast: “I would like to think not. I have just been outside of that environment. The coaches have been focused on the team and the players involved. It is difficult to communicate with everybody.”

While McDonald has led Australia’s successful campaigns in recent years, including winning the 2023 World Cup, retaining the Ashes in 2023, and winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India last winter, Bancroft said he had never spoken to him directly. Bancroft also mentioned that McDonald’s focus has been entirely on the Australian team and its current players, which is understandable.

Bancroft’s Form in Domestic Cricket

Despite not being called up, Bancroft has been in solid form domestically. He was the leading top-order batter in Sheffield Shield over the 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons, outshining other contenders for the opening position. Even as David Warner and Usman Khawaja were solidified as Australia’s openers and Steve Smith was promoted following Warner’s retirement, Bancroft continued to impress in domestic cricket.

This form earned him a place as a potential contender when a spot opened up after Smith was moved back down to number four. However, Bancroft’s poor run of form led to him being overlooked in favor of Nathan McSweeney and 19-year-old Sam Konstas.

Bancroft’s Motivation and Future Goals

Bancroft remains motivated by the possibility of returning to the national team. He expressed: “Of course that [an Australia recall] is something that motivates me.” However, Bancroft emphasized his focus on enjoying the game and playing with full commitment. He acknowledged that in cricket, “form comes and goes, runs come and go,” and that he would continue to give his best.

Currently, Bancroft is captaining Gloucestershire in the County Championship, where he started the season with a 163 against Glamorgan.

With Konstas impressing on his Test debut against India, but not being called up for Australia’s recent series in Sri Lanka, the competition for a spot in the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s in June remains fierce. As Australia continues to look for their opening partner for Usman Khawaja, Bancroft is quietly pushing for a chance, determined to make the most of his opportunities in domestic cricket.

Final Thoughts

Bancroft’s desire to return to the national team is clear, and despite not having direct conversations with Andrew McDonald, he remains hopeful that his form in the County Championship and continued commitment to the game will lead to a potential recall. His journey highlights the unpredictable nature of cricket, where opportunities can arise when least expected, and Bancroft is prepared to seize them when the time comes.