Justin Langer lets rip as cricket world fumes over Cameron Bancroft's Test 'exile'

Cricket Australia (CA) has come under fire from fans for controversially overlooking Cameron Bancroft after naming its latest squad for the upcoming series against the West Indies, with Aussie legend Justin Langer among those to question the decision. Selectors announced their 13-man squad for the two-Test series on Wednesday, with previous reports that Cameron Green would come back into the side to replace the retired David Warner proving accurate.

Aussie selector George Bailey confirmed on Wednesday that Steve Smith had been granted his wish to open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja, with Green set to slot in at No.4, where he bats for Western Australia. Bancroft was among a number of leading candidates who ultimately missed out selection, with Marcus Harris also snubbed, despite being endorsed as Warner's successor by the retired Test star himself.

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Matthew Renshaw - who was also in the mix to be named as Warner's successor - has been named in Australia's 13-man squad as a back-up batter, presumably due to his ability to fill any role from opener to the middle order. However, it was the latest snub of Bancroft that has left fans fuming on social media, with former Aussie coach and Test opener Langer among those to criticise the West Australian's omission.

Justin Langer slams Cameron Bancroft omission

CA has repeatedly told Bancroft and the other batting candidates to push their case for selection by making runs in the Sheffield Shield - a competition the opener has been the leading run-scorer in for the last two seasons. That fact has not been lost on fans and Langer, who took aim at CA in an article for The West Australian that was published before the squad had even been confirmed.

“The non-selection of Cameron Bancroft for this next test match against the West Indies is disappointing. He will be gutted,” Langer wrote. “The mantra for all selectors is to tell aspiring players to score runs, take wickets, knock down the door. Be so good we can’t ignore you. Bancroft was given this message. All players are. He has taken the advice.

“His numbers are outstanding. Not only has he made a lot of runs, but his fielding in the slips or at bat pad is as good as any player in the country. He is at that age where players like Michael Hussey, Chris Rogers and Adam Voges have come in and dominated. A lot of good judges have pointed to his weight of runs, they are undeniable."

Bancroft has helped WA to back-to-back Sheffield Shield titles in 2022 and 2023 and has a competition-leading 1457 runs over the last two seasons. The 31-year-old was also the player caught using sandpaper in the infamous ball-tampering scandal for Australia that cost him a nine-month suspension - a saga many believe may have cost him a recall to the Aussie Test side.

Cricket world reacts to Cameron Bancroft Test snub

The 31-year-old insists his relationship with the team is fine, despite appearing to throw bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon under the bus in relation to their knowledge of the tampering at the time. However, many across the cricket world feel it could have cost Bancroft a Test recall, with former Australia all-rounder Tom Moody describing his selection oversight as "shocking on social media.

“His first class numbers are so compelling against his peers it feels there is another agenda which I hope was communicated to him honestly!” Moody wrote. Bancroft's latest Test snub sparked a wave of backlash across social media, with many fans agreeing with Moody and Aussie legend Ricky Ponting's assertion that the WA opener was the best candidate to replace Warner.

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