BBL: Cameron Bancroft lasts three balls on return from ban
Tainted Australian cricketer Cameron Bancroft did not have the best of return to competitive cricket. The player, who saw his nine-month ban end on Saturday, lasted for just three deliveries in the Big Bash League. Bancroft was handed the ban in relation to a ball-tampering scandal against South Africa earlier this year. Here is more.
The disgraced 26-year-old cricketer, saw himself getting picked by the Perth Scorchers team for the game against Hobart Hurricanes on Sunday. He did not play club cricket since his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal. Bancroft came in at number four and managed to last three balls. He scored just two runs. Bancroft managed an edge off Riley Meredith, which Matthew Wade accepted happily.
Meanwhile, a handful of fans in the stadium weren't happy to see Bancroft back in action. Parts of the Tasmanian crowd booed Bancroft. After lasting for minutes on the pitch, Bancroft received a warmer round of applause, while returning back to the hut. Scorchers managed a paltry 107/8 in 20 overs. Hobart chased down the target easily.
A few boos from Launceston crowd for Cameron Bancroft as he walks out to bat with @ScorchersBBL in trouble at 3/16 #BBL08 pic.twitter.com/9NSCfGZoCA
— Andrew McCormack (@_AMcCormack7) December 30, 2018
Bancroft was axed by Cricket Australia alongside Steve Smith and David Warner. The former was caught trying to use sandpaper to alter the ball against South Africa. Smith and Warner were handed a 12-month ban period for their role in the scandal.
In a recent interview to Fox Sports, Bancroft said that it was Warner who suggested him to alter the ball against SA. "Dave suggested to me to carry the action out on the ball given the situation we were in the game and I didn't know any better. I didn't know any better because I just wanted to fit in and feel valued really."
