‘The oversight of Cameron Bancroft is shocking’ – Tom Moody expresses displeasure over opener’s non-selection to Test squad

Cameron Bancroft. (Photo by Brenton Geach Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Australia legend Tom Moody articulated his dismay after Cricket Australia (CA) overlooked Cameron Bancroft for the upcoming two-Test series against the West Indies, commencing on January 17. With the retirement of David Warner, Australia were on the lookout to fill the void left by the destructive southpaw. Meanwhile, Steven Smith had expressed his desire to open and CA acknowledged it as the ace batter will open for the first time in his storied Test career.

Since Smith will open alongside Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green will now take the number four position, a spot previously held by the 34-year-old. Moreover, CA has recalled the Queensland opener Matthew Renshaw, including him in the 13-man squad announced on Wednesday, January 10 as an “extra batter.” It further indicates that he might be the next potential opener, ahead of Marcus Harris and Bancroft. Warner, on the other hand, had himself pushed the case of left-hander Harris as his replacement earlier.

Meanwhile, Tom Moody took to X to express his anguish over Bancroft’s non-selection.

“Selection is never an easy task but the oversight of Cameron Bancroft is shocking. His first class numbers are so compelling against his peers it feels there is another agenda which I hope was communicated to him honestly! #Bancroft,” Moody wrote on X.

See Tom Moody’s X post:

Selection is never an easy task but the oversight of Cameron Bancroft is shocking.
His first class numbers are so compelling against his peers it feels there is another agenda which I hope was communicated to him honestly! #Bancroft

— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) January 9, 2024

Cameron Bancroft’s first-class cricket stats shine with over 9000 runs

Cameron Bancroft boasts an impressive track record in first-class cricket, having accumulated over 9000 runs across 146 matches. The 31-year-old wicketkeeper-batter has notched up 25 centuries at an average of 39.04 and a strike rate of 42.89. 

Despite making his Test debut in November 2017, Bancroft’s international career faced a major setback due to his involvement in the infamous sandpapergate scandal during the 2018 Cape Town Test. As a consequence, he received a nine-month ban, abruptly halting his Test career. His last appearance in a Test match was in August 2019, during the second Test of the Ashes series.

Australia Test squad v West Indies: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc.