Questions remain for Cameron Bancroft following difficult innings on Boxing Day

CAMERON Bancroft has shown flashes of ability in his brief Test career but a disjointed, uncomfortable first innings on Boxing Day is proof of the questions that still surround the West Australian.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA — DECEMBER 26: Cameron Bancroft of Australia looks dejected after being dismissed by Chris Woakes of England during day one of the Fourth Test Match in the 2017/18 Ashes series between Australia and England at Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 26, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

THERE’S no prizes for guessing what’s on the menu for Cameron Bancroft come March 1 in Durban.

The jury is still out on Australia’s new opener, who thoroughly deserved his Test call-up, but aside from a booming second innings score in Brisbane so far hasn’t grabbed his opportunity with both hands this summer.

Bancroft looked like he was batting on a different pitch to partner David Warner on Boxing Day as England exposed his lack of rhythm and timing with short balls that rose above waist height as he got himself repeatedly caught on the crease.

Bancroft struggled to 26 off 95 balls.

South Africa’s lively pace attack will be taking note and even though it’s hard to see how Bancroft doesn’t tour the Rainbow Nation in March, he appears set for a fierce examination.

Bancroft demanded selection on the back of some absolutely superb form for Western Australia at the start of the summer.

“He’s obviously still learning,” said partner David Warner.

“He played well in (first Test) Queensland and the way he’s batting at the moment I think you can see he’s got a great technique, and got a good eye.

“But we all know when you get to this level it’s going to be hard to score frequently at a good rate as well.

“We’ve spoken a lot with each other ... (about) how he thinks people are going to get him out and obviously today his dismissal he’ll be disappointed with because that’s exactly how he thinks they’re going to get him out.

LISTEN! The Daily Telegraph’s chief cricket writer Ben Horne gives his assessment of the first day’s play of the Boxing Day Ashes Test.

Subscribe to CRICKET UNFILTERED podcast from the iTunes store

“He’s a quality player. He’s obviously got the runs on the ball to get selected so we’ll see the best of him next innings and moving onto Sydney.”

Australia are cruising to Ashes glory and the rebirth of the Marsh brothers has ensured the batting line-up has improved overall, but there are still question marks hanging over Bancroft and No. 3 Usman Khawaja.

Between them they soaked up 155 balls and made little dent on the scoreboard.

It’s hard to say Khawaja is out of form when he made back-to-back 50s in Adelaide and Perth when the series was on the line, but it hasn’t been the same flowing brilliance that the Queensland captain has exhibited over the past three summers.

SHAMBLES: Why England just aren’t good enough

WARNER: Davey goes on wild ride

As Warner made a century off 130 balls, Bancroft never looked comfortable scrambling to 26 off 95 balls before being trapped lbw by Chris Woakes.

Khawaja too never looked like hitting his straps before he nicked off to a peach of a delivery from Stuart Broad for 17 off 65.

The two wickets in the middle session majorly slowed down Australia’s progress and allowed England back into the game.

Australia refused to guarantee last year’s rookie opener Matt Renshaw a ticket to India until he made a superb 180 in the Sydney Test.

On that criteria, Bancroft needs a statement either in the second innings in Melbourne or at the SCG in the New Year.

Bancroft needs a statement in one of the three remaining Ashes innings.

However, the complicating factor for selectors is there is no Sheffield Shield cricket before the squad for the South African tour is chosen.

Renshaw has made just one half century for the summer and will struggle to get back. Joe Burns is in serious form at the top of the order for Queensland but it’s hard to see him jumping to the top of the queue again especially after a rampant Ashes triumph.

Glenn Maxwell is the man whose form should be rewarded if selectors want a fresh face, after he made a superb double hundred for Victoria.

Peter Handscomb is also likely to tour South Africa as a reserve batsman despite being dropped mid-Ashes.

Bancroft deserves time but South Africa will be a strong test and a barometer of where they’re at as a rising Test force.

Khawaja has the game to also fire on hard and fast South African pitches and he has enough runs on the board over a number of years.

But his problem is that the man below him in the batting order, Steve Smith, has also proven a world class No.3.

Originally published as Questions remain for Cameron Bancroft following difficult innings on Boxing Day