Aussie cricket fans forgive Cameron Bancroft in big call on David Warner replacement
The West Australian was suspended for nine months over his role in the ball-tampering scandal of 2018.
The people have spoken – and Cameron Bancroft is the man they want as David Warner's replacement at the top of the Australian batting order. A Yahoo Sport Australia live poll has attracted an astonishing 44,000 votes and almost half want the West Australian opener to be given first shot at filling the massive hole left by Warner.
Asked to select their preferred replacement, 46 per cent of respondents plumped for Bancroft ahead of Cameron Green (24 per cent), Matt Renshaw (18 per cent) and Marcus Harris (seven per cent). There was five per cent support for 'someone else', presumably Steve Smith on the back of his revelation he is open to a move up the order.
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Not only is the overwhelming support for Bancroft a ringing endorsement of his ability with the bat, it is also solid proof the majority of fans are willing to fully forgive his role in the 'Sandpaper-gate' affair six years ago. The 31-year-old played two Tests on the 2019 Ashes tour after serving a nine-month ban for his role in Australian cricket's darkest day but has been on the outer since.
After scoring heavily in Sheffield Shield cricket over the past few seasons, there is now or never vibe around Bancroft's latest proposed return to the national side. As one supporter noted on Facebook: "It's good enough to have Smith and Warner back in the team so why not Bancroft as he is the best opening batter in the country at the moment." Another wrote: "Let the cricketing factors decide his place in the team. No favours, no denial."
Mitchell Johnson's warning amid David Warner debate
Warner's Np.1 nemesis – Mitchell Johnson – has not surprisingly picked fellow West Australian Bancroft as the man to replace the retired opener. But whoever selectors choose, the former international quick has warned against expecting a Warner clone.
"I get that there might be an issue with those specialist openers not being aggressive enough. But I don’t think Australia need to directly replace or replicate Warner’s batting style," Johnson wrote in his weekly column for the West Australian newspaper.
"Selectors have long known about Warner’s nominated retirement date and should have had a plan in place. What have they been saying to state cricketers around selection - play in your position and score runs? What more can Bancroft have done to get another opportunity than be the Sheffield Shield’s leading run-scorer last season and again this season?" The selectors will name their squad for the two-Test series against the West Indies on Tuesday.
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