Cameron Bancroft at risk of being dropped for third Test, a risk made more acute by David Warner’s struggles

After a poor return so far in the series, Cameron Bancroft needs a score if he bats again at Lord’s, or risk carrying drinks for Marcus Harris at Leeds. Though factors outside his control will play a part, too.

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Cameron Bancroft could become a victim of his opening partner David Warner’s horror Ashes start with Australia unable to turn out two batsmen who can’t score.

While he also needs runs fast, Warner’s 6000 Test runs and 21 centuries has earned him time to rediscover his Test best and he looks better equipped to turn things around.

Australian coach Justin Langer said Warner had a “look in his eye” before the Lord’s Test, and his presence at an optional Sunday training session suggested he was prepared to do the work needed.

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Warner was bowled by a perfect ball from Stuart Broad, part of a concerted plan to attack his stumps from around the wicket, one the Aussie opener knew was coming.

David Warner has been dismissed three times in three innings by Stuart Broad.

So much so Warner spoke to former Test captain Ricky Ponting about the issue before the series began, and explained he was working through the best way to combat it.

But Bancroft’s continued poor return in his first three Ashes outings has cast doubt on his ability to be the run-scorer selectors hoped when they opted for him in front of Marcus Harris.

Backed for his mental fortitude, Bancroft has managed to face 122 balls against England’s best bowlers and, at least on two occasions, in conditions in the opposition’s favour.

Cameron Bancroft has yet to justify his surprising selection for Australia’s Ashes XI.

But just 28 runs, and only a minimum scored through shots other than defensive squeezes, have put his awkward technique, where he drops his bat in front of his front pad, or plants his front foot and almost falls forward to get bat on ball, in the spotlight.

The English bowlers don’t fear him in any way, and believe the growing pressure on him only adds to his vulnerability.

Australian selectors put their Ashes faith in Bancroft because they believed he was an emerging Test opener before his ill-fated decision to take sandpaper on the field in Cape Town last year.

Marcus Harris has compelling recent form that many believe makes him a better option to open.

But he averaged just under 27 through 14 Test innings to that point, and scored just 179 runs in his first eight innings, which were all in Australia, in a series against England which the Aussies won 4-0.

Selection chief Trevor Hohns said Bancroft’s return in his next series, the ill-fated tour or South Africa, was a better indicator. But his 223 runs were only marginally better than David Warner (217) and Tim Paine (215) in a series after which Australia’s senior batsmen conceded to being “mentally fried”.

Compare that to Marcus Harris, enough of a contender to open for Australia in the Ashes that he was picked in the 17-man squad and was actually legendary Test captain Allan Border’s pick to bat with Warner.

Against the best Indian bowling attack to tour Australia, in his first tree Tests, Harris, with 258 runs, outscored vice-captain Travis Head (237) and Usman Khawaja (198) who are now automatic Test picks.

The partnership between Bancroft and Warner is at real risk of being broken up mid-series.

From Harris’ last 18 first class innings, including in the Sheffield Shield and then the Australia A tour, he’s passed 50 eight times, and made four hundreds. He was out twice in the 90s in the second half of the Shield season, playing against a Dukes ball, and made 141 in the final.

Harris has averaged 53 in his last 10 first class innings, with two hundreds. Bancroft averages 28, a stretch that includes his three Ashes efforts, with no hundreds, in the same amount of at bats.

Bancroft needs a score if he bats again at Lord’s, or he’ll be carrying drinks for Harris in the third Test at Leeds.

Originally published as Cameron Bancroft at risk of being dropped for third Test, a risk made more acute by David Warner’s struggles