Former Australian duo Rodney Hogg and Chris Rogers say weight of runs should be enough for young batsman Cameron Bancroft to make his debut in next week’s First Ashes Test in Brisbane.
The 24-year-old West Australian made an unbeaten 228 against South Australia, while he managed scores of 76 not out and 86 against a star-studded NSW pace attack in the previous Sheffield Shield round.
“Only one bloke has said ‘hey I want to be in your Test team because I’m making runs and his name is Cameron Bancroft’,” Hogg said on SEN’s The Run Home.
“What I like about him is he played against the Australian attack against NSW and finished not out in both innings, now he’s got 228 not out.
“He said pick me. He’s knocking the door down.”
Rogers, who played 25 Tests at the top of the order expects Bancroft to get the nod either opening the batting, replacing incumbent Matthew Renshaw, or even sliding into the contentious number six position and feels his experience playing English county cricket will hold him in good stead.
“Matty Renshaw’s failed again today, I think that’s thrown it up again and I think Cam Bancroft might sneak in there,” he said.
“Bancroft has gone and played two seasons of county cricket, so he’s played about 50 first class games in the last two years and has got a few runs behind him.
“It wouldn’t be the worst selection.”
Such has been the dominance of Bancroft’s performances, Rogers believes the selectors will find it very difficult to tell him he hasn’t done enough to secure a spot in the team.
“I think if you openly say ‘here are three games to prove yourself’, and one guy blitzes it and against the best bowlers in Australia last week, it’s hard then to say to him ‘nah mate you haven’t done enough’,” he said.