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Australia's out-of-favour opener Cameron Bancroft has sent a message to the selectors ahead of the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 with his first century of the season. Bancroft scored an unbeaten 105 for Western Australia against South Australia in pink-ball Sheffield Shield match at Adelaide Oval where the second Test of the series is scheduled to be played.
Bancroft ends streak of low scores
Bancroft who played his last Test in the Ashes 2019 was one of the contenders for the opening spot in the home Test series against India. However, he failed to score big for Australia A against India A. He bagged two ducks and scored 19 runs from four innings. The 32-year-old followedit up with scores of 4, 12 and 11 in next two matches for Western Australia.
In the first innings against South Australia, he departed for a golden duck. Left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson managed to get an edge off his bat that went to wicketkeeper Harry Nielsen. In the second innings, he made up for the string of low scores. He scored 105 runs from 255 balls including six fours and a six. He helped Western Australia post 243/3 before Ashton Turner declared the innings. Western Australia set a target of 364 for Ben Manenti-led side.
McSweeney fails on Test debut
McSweeney who was backed by former David Warner to replace him at top of the order wasn't impressive on his debut at Perth Stadium. In both the innings, he got lbw to India's stand-in captain and pace-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. He scored just 10 runs in Perth as Australia lost by a huge margin of 295 runs on November 25 with five sessions to go.
Bancroft's Test numbers
Bancroft is yet to play a Test against India. From 10 Tests, he has scored 446 runs from 18 innings averaging 26.23. He is yet to score his maiden Test century but has three half-centuries in the format.
Australia coach expects the selectors to not make many changes in the squad for the day/night Test starting December 6.
"The people in that change-room (for Perth Test) are the same people that will be in Adelaide," McDonald was quoted as saying by 'cricket.com.au'.
"It (making changes) is always a consideration, wherever you go in the world in terms of the personnel you pick for conditions."
McDonald defended young McSweeney who is not a regular opener in domestic cricket.
"I think there's been enough players banging down the door. I feel as though we've got some depth there if called upon," he said.
"I think sometimes people look at the pure numbers of what's happening in Shield cricket, but it's sometimes hard to get a connection with the surfaces they're playing on. So we feel as though we've got ample players available if called upon."
