Cameron Bancroft named in Australia A squad to play New Zealand A

The pecking order for Australian openers could look different in a few weeks after a new Australia A squad was announced.

Cameron Bancroft has been named in an Australia A squad to play New Zealand A. Picture: Paul Kane / Getty Images

Cameron Bancroft will have another chance to put pressure on David Warner’s Test opening spot after being named in an Australia A squad to play later this month.

The Sheffield Shield leading run-scorer is the most experienced player named in a 17-man squad for two four-day matches against New Zealand A in Brisbane and Mackay.

A separate squad has been named for three one-day matches following the red-ball games, with Marnus Labuschagne set to line up in the fixtures following his shock omission from Australia’s preliminary World Cup squad announced on Tuesday.

Spinners Todd Murphy and Matt Kuhnemann have been named in the one-day squad, while Kuhnemann and Mitch Swepson are the two spin options for the four-day games.

Cameron Bancroft joined Somerset for a stint at the beginning of the English summer but could not continue with his strong Sheffield Shield form. Picture: Harry Trump / Getty Images

Bancroft topped the Sheffield Shield run tally with 945 runs at 59.06, including four centuries last season, but was overlooked for the England tour in favour of Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw.

He played in Somerset’s opening four first-class matches in the County Championship but managed only 137 runs in seven innings with a top score of 44.

The 30-year-old is set to join Tasmanian opener Tim Ward at the top of the order against New Zealand A, with WA coach Adam Voges to lead the side.

Voges said the series was an opportunity for Bancroft to “poke his head above” Renshaw and Harris in the pecking order after the duo were rested following the Ashes.

There will also be six Sheffield Shield matches before the first Test against Pakistan for the trio to stake their claims.

Even if Warner holds his spot for the start of the Australian summer, the veteran left-hander has said he will retire following the Sydney Test in January, leaving a vacancy to fill for the two-Test tour of New Zealand in February.

“Cameron’s form, particularly last season in Shield cricket … he thoroughly deserves the opportunity that he’s going to get,” Voges said.

Chair of selectors George Bailey says he is keen to have another look at Todd Murphy’s capabilities in limited overs cricket. Picture: Ryan Pierse / Getty Images

“You throw Marcus Harris into the mix, Matt Renshaw into the mix, Cameron Bancroft … I think they’re the three names that are probably at the top of the queue at the moment, and on reasonably level footing.

Voges said Labuschagne’s selection left the door open for him to force a return to Australia’s ODI side for the World Cup in October after missing the initial squad.

“Marnus is a world-class player, and (I’m) certainly looking forward to working with him,” Voges said.

“He’ll be disappointed that he’s not going to South Africa, but all he can do now is go back and press his claims.”

Mackay’s Great Barrier Reef Arena will host games for the first time since its redevelopment, with its four-day match to be played as a pink-ball game ahead of a day-night Test to open the summer of cricket at the Gabba.

Four-day squad:

Wes Agar (SA ), Cameron Bancroft (WA), Jordan Buckingham (SA), Ben Dwarshuis (NSW), Caleb Jewell (TAS), Campbell Kellaway (VIC), Matthew Kelly (WA), Matthew Kuhnemann (QLD ), Nathan McAndrew (SA), Nathan McSweeney (SA), Joel Paris (WA), Jimmy Peirson (QLD), Mitch Perry (VIC), Josh Philippe (WA), Mark Steketee (QLD), Mitchell Swepson (QLD), Tim Ward (TAS)

One-day squad:

Wes Agar (SA), Ollie Davies (NSW), Ben Dwarshuis (NSW), Liam Hatcher (NSW), Matthew Kuhnemann (QLD),Marnus Labuschagne (QLD), Ben McDermott (QLD), Todd Murphy (VIC), Josh Philippe (WA), Matthew Renshaw (QLD), Gurinder Sandhu (QLD), Matt Short (VIC), Mark Steketee (QLD), Will Sutherland (VIC), Ashton Turner (WA)