Sydney grade cricket offer Cameron Bancroft lifeline should WA uphold his ban

AS 16 Western Australia grade clubs vote on whether to uphold a rule that bans Cameron Bancroft from playing in Perth’s grade competition, a rival state will open its arms to the man at the centre of the ball-tampering scandal.

Cameron Bancroft in the field after he was questioned by umpires in Cape Town.

SYDNEY will open its arms to Cameron Bancroft if he’s effectively kicked out of his own State at a landmark hearing.

Western Australia’s 16 grade clubs are holding an extraordinary meeting to vote on whether to uphold a rule that bans the man at the middle of the ball-tampering scandal from playing in Perth’s grade competition.

Already exiled from Test, State and County cricket, Bancroft is now facing a final insult at the hands of his own local association – the very community which first brought him through the ranks.

Cameron Bancroft in the field after he was questioned by umpires in Cape Town.

NSW premier cricket is ready to pounce having already approved the other two members of the Cape Town trio Steve Smith and David Warner to return to cricket this summer in Sydney’s club ranks.

Former Test quick Mike Whitney, the President of Warner’s club, Randwick Petersham declared Bancroft would “absolutely be welcomed with open arms” by Sydney’s premier competition.

At a recent cricket function in Melbourne, Whitney told the audience that Randwick Petersham had a duty to support Warner, and that the opener would commit some of his 100 hours of community service to working with the club and its juniors.

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The prospect of three current internationals all playing in Sydney will give the grade competition unprecedented profile.

NSW’s interest in giving Bancroft an opportunity shapes as an embarrassing scenario for not only Western Australia, but Cricket Australia – who had geared their heavy sanctions around an assumption that players could re-earn their stripes playing in their local communities.

However, there is a strong feeling that stubborn WA clubs may not budge on the strict rule which states it will not register any player serving a Cricket Australia suspension.

Cameras catch Cameron Bancroft scuffing the ball. Picture: Fox Sports

It’s understood Western Australian State cricket tried to solve the controversy before it went to a vote, but the district association refused to back down and the extraordinary hearing was booked in for the next meeting.

As opposed to Smith and Warner who have been rubbed out for a year, Bancroft is only suspended for nine months, meaning banishment from playing in WA could practically hurt his chances of building into a season – where after Christmas he will be back in State cricket pushing for a return to the Test side.

Bancroft has Western Australia State chief executive Christina Matthews firmly in his corner and she has presented to the district association that it’s unjust not to make an exception for the 25-year-old.

Cameron Bancroft at his emotional press conference.

“It would be disappointing if of the three people involved, he’s the only one who isn’t able to play premier cricket,” Matthews told The Daily Telegraph earlier this month.

“I think that has to be taken into account as well.

“We absolutely support the rule that the WADCC have in place. Which is why we wouldn’t seek to have the rule abolished.

“What is being sought on behalf of Cameron is an exemption from the current rules on the basis of how CA have imposed the sanctions.”

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Originally published as Sydney grade cricket offer Cameron Bancroft lifeline should WA uphold his ban