After the infamous ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town in March last year, Cameron Bancroft is all set to return to action in the upcoming Ashes after being selected in the squad for the tour. Bancroft speaking on that particular fateful day stated that he had made a huge mistake in trying to alter the condition of the match ball during the Cape Town Test last year. However, he is looking forward to putting that incident behind him and come out all guns blazing in the Ashes.
“I think being serious about cricket is important, but I think it”s also about being able to realise the game is just a game of cricket,” he said on Saturday (July 27). “One of the big lessons that I learned last year was about being true to yourself.
“There is no doubt that I wasn”t as true to myself as I could have been at times (but) you learn from mistakes that you make, and you try and be better. At the end of the day, what you do and your actions is completely up to you. I made a mistake, and I”ll learn from it and move forward and get better,” Bancroft was quoted as saying by the Cricbuzz.
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The Test opener who is expected to play a crucial part in the Ashes further stated that he used his baggy Green (his Test Cap No 451) to keep himself inspired in making a replacement. Bancroft received his Test cap from Geoff Marsh in the Brisbane Test against England back in 2017.
Cameron Bancroft recalls how the Baggy Green kept him motivated
“It”s something you”re obviously very proud of. It”s a very prestigious item to have and you take good care of it because it means something to you… and being able to see that is obviously really good to focus your goals, and where you want to be going.
“It”s good motivation, isn”t it? To look at it and go “yeah I”m playing cricket but there”s something bigger I eventually want to be able to get back to”. I guess it was good motivation to keep working hard… to keep my goals and keep focused,” he added.
Bancroft has looked in good touch since his return and struck a brilliant 93 in the warm-up clash against Southampton. He averaged 45.37 in the Division 2 League and looked in great form with the bat in hand. Bancroft should be ready for the verbal challenge which he is expected to face during the Ashes. A hostile England crowd could make life difficult for the young opening batsman.
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“It”s all right, it doesn”t bother me too much. People will react to how they want to react. Hopefully, I can use it if people want to be like that, to give (me) energy to perform well. But I can”t control that. I guess the journey that I”ve been through over the last 18 months, you get exposed to things like that. I”ll just deal with it and keep moving forward.”
