As a result of a Cricket Australia investigation into a ball tampering incident during the 3rd Test against South Africa in March 2018,Bancroft and two others,captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner,were charged by Cricket Australia on 27 March 2018 with bringing the game into disrepute,suspended,and sent home from the tour. The next day,as a result of his involvement in the ball tampering incident,Cricket Australia banned Bancroft from all international and domestic cricket for nine months and from any leadership role in Australian cricket for an additional year.[1] Bancroft made his return to cricket on 30 December 2018,playing for the Perth Scorchers in the 2018–19 Big Bash League season.[2] Bancroft scored 138 not out on his Sheffield Shield return as well.[3]
He made his List A debut for Western Australia against Tasmania on 16 October 2011 and his first-class debut one week later.
In January 2025,Bancroft collided with Daniel Sams going for a catch in the outfield whilst playing in a BBL match for the Sydney Thunder against the Perth Scorchers. Their heads collided,and both were treated for concussion. Bancroft was left with a broken shoulder and nose,however was able to walk off the field. Sams,however,was knocked unconscious,exhibiting the fencing response,and was stretchered off the ground.[8] Both were taken to hospital,diagnosed with concussion,and discharged the following afternoon. Sams was cleared of any fractures,however he was ruled out for at least the next 12 days under the Cricket Australia concussion protocol. Bancroft was sidelined for "an extended period" due to his fractures.[9]
Bancroft was selected in the Australian Test squad to tour Bangladesh;however,that tour was cancelled for security reasons. Bancroft and the rest of the team members returned to their respective states.
He made his Twenty20 International debut for Australia against India on 31 January 2016,[11] but did not face a ball in Australia’s innings. It remains his only T20I appearance.
In November 2017,he was named in Australia's Test squad for the 2017–18 Ashes series.[12] Bancroft replaced Matt Renshaw as an opening batsman and became the first Australian opener to make his debut in an Ashes Test since Michael Slater in 1993.[13]
Bancroft's baggy green cap was presented to him by Geoff Marsh. In his first Test innings,he scored 5 and 82 not out to help secure Australia's 10-wicket victory against England.[14] He played in all five Tests in that series.
Bancroft was selected for the 2018 tour of South Africa and played in the first three Tests. In March 2018,he admitted to ball-tampering in the third Test match,held in Cape Town.[15] During the match,television footage showed Bancroft rubbing the ball with sandpaper.[16] On discovering that footage of the incident had been broadcast,Bancroft put the sandpaper down the front of his trousers,before being spoken to by the on-field umpires.[17][18]
At a later press conference,captain Steve Smith admitted that the plan to tamper with the ball was concocted by the team "leadership group."[19][20] The ICC later imposed a one-match ban on Smith and handed Bancroft three demerit points.[21]Cricket Australia then imposed further sanctions against Bancroft,Smith and David Warner,meaning they would not take part in the fourth Test.[22] Cricket Australia launched a separate investigation into the incident as a matter of urgency.[23]
Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland announced that,as a result of the preliminary investigation into the incident,Smith,Warner and Bancroft had been charged with bringing the game into disrepute,suspended and sent home.[24] Warner was later found to be responsible for developing the plan to tamper with the ball and instructing Bancroft on how to do it. Bancroft was found to have carried out those instructions,tried to conceal evidence and misled match officials by denying knowledge of the tampering. As a result,Bancroft received a 9-month ban from international and domestic cricket in Australia and was banned from any leadership role for 1 further year after the initial ban was completed.[25]
Somerset County Cricket Club announced that Bancroft would not be joining the county as its overseas player for the 2018 season,as had been planned.[26]
Return to cricket
Bancroft made a return to professional cricket on 30 December 2018,playing for the Perth Scorchers in the 2018–19 Big Bash League season.[2] In the match,he scored two runs from three balls,[27] with the Hobart Hurricanes going on to win the game by 6 wickets.[28] Bancroft went on to make 296 runs in 10 games in the season,including a career best score of 87 not out during a game against the Sydney Sixers,for which he was awarded man of the match.[29]
In February 2019,Bancroft returned to first-class cricket,playing for Western Australia against New South Wales in the 2018–19 Sheffield Shield. He made an unbeaten 138 in the first innings and 86 in the second. Bancroft faced a total of 621 balls in the match,falling 28 balls short of former Australian captain Steve Waugh's record of most balls faced in a Shield match.[30]
Later in the year,he was appointed captain of Durham County Cricket Club in England for the 2019 season.[31] While the move to make him captain was criticised by some members of the public,it was supported by Durham director of cricket Marcus North[31] as well as former Australian captain,teammate and fellow ball-tampering conspirator,Steve Smith.[32] In his one-day debut for Durham against Northamptonshire,Bancroft scored 150 not out off 130 balls.[33]
The aftermath of the ball-tampering scandal and the challenges of returning to professional cricket took a toll on Bancroft's mental health. He openly discussed his struggles,as well as the pressures and expectations faced by professional athletes.[34]
2019 Ashes series
In July 2019,Bancroft was named in Australia's squad for the 2019 Ashes series in England. He made his international return in the first Test at Edgbaston at the beginning of August.[35][36] He played the first two Tests,scoring 8,7,13 and 16,and was dropped for the third Test.
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