 | This article needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(December 2024) |
 Bancroft playing for Gloucestershire in 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Cameron Timothy Bancroft | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1992-11-19)19 November 1992 (age 33) Attadale, Western Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Bangers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-armoff break | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Wicket-keeper-batter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Test debut (cap 451) | 23 November 2017 v England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 14 August 2019 v England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Only T20I (cap 79) | 31 January 2016 v India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011/12–present | Western Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014/15–2022/23 | Perth Scorchers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | Gloucestershire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2021 | Durham | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | Somerset | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023/24–present | Sydney Thunder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–present | Gloucestershire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source:ESPNcricinfo,1 November 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cameron Timothy Bancroft (born 19 November 1992) is an Australiancricketer contracted toWestern Australia in Australian first class cricket,Gloucestershire in English first class cricket, and theSydney Thunder in theBig Bash League. He made hisTest debut for theAustralian national team in November 2017.
As a result of aCricket Australia investigation into aball tampering incident during the 3rd Test against South Africa in March 2018, Bancroft and two others, captainSteve Smith and vice-captainDavid Warner, were charged by Cricket Australia on 27 March 2018 with bringing the game into disrepute, suspended, and sent home from the tour. The next day, as a result of his involvement in the ball tampering incident, Cricket Australia banned Bancroft from all international and domestic cricket for nine months and from any leadership role in Australian cricket for an additional year.[1] Bancroft made his return to cricket on 30 December 2018, playing for the Perth Scorchers in the2018–19 Big Bash League season.[2] Bancroft scored 138not out on his Sheffield Shield return as well.[3]
After playing under-17, under-19 and under-23 cricket forWestern Australia, Bancroft played several under-19 Tests and One Day Internationals for theAustralia Under-19 cricket team, impressing by scoring three centuries at anaverage of 50.90.[4][5] In August 2012, Bancroft played in the2012 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, where he scored the second highest number of runs.[6][7]
He made hisList A debut for Western Australia againstTasmania on 16 October 2011 and hisfirst-class debut one week later.
In January 2025, Bancroft collided withDaniel Sams going for a catch in the outfield whilst playing in aBBL match for theSydney Thunder against thePerth Scorchers. Their heads collided, and both were treated for concussion. Bancroft was left with a broken shoulder and nose, however was able to walk off the field. Sams, however, was knocked unconscious, exhibiting thefencing response, and was stretchered off the ground.[8] Both were taken to hospital, diagnosed with concussion, and discharged the following afternoon. Sams was cleared of any fractures, however he was ruled out for at least the next 12 days under theCricket Australia concussion protocol. Bancroft was sidelined for "an extended period" due to his fractures.[9]
In February 2025, Bancroft was namedGloucestershire red-ball captain for the2025 County Championship season.[10]
Bancroft was selected in the AustralianTest squad to tourBangladesh; however, that tour was cancelled for security reasons. Bancroft and the rest of the team members returned to their respective states.
He made hisTwenty20 International debut for Australiaagainst India on 31 January 2016,[11] but did not face a ball in Australia’s innings. It remains his only T20I appearance.
In November 2017, he was named in Australia's Test squad for the2017–18 Ashes series.[12] Bancroft replacedMatt Renshaw as an opening batsman and became the first Australian opener to make his debut in an Ashes Test sinceMichael Slater in1993.[13]
Bancroft'sbaggy green cap was presented to him byGeoff Marsh. In his first Test innings, he scored 5 and 82not out to help secure Australia's 10-wicket victory against England.[14] He played in all five Tests in that series.
Bancroft was selected for the2018 tour of South Africa and played in the first three Tests. In March 2018, he admitted toball-tampering in the third Test match, held inCape Town.[15] During the match, television footage showed Bancroft rubbing the ball with sandpaper.[16] On discovering that footage of the incident had been broadcast, Bancroft put the sandpaper down the front of his trousers, before being spoken to by the on-field umpires.[17][18]
At a later press conference, captainSteve Smith admitted that the plan to tamper with the ball was concocted by the team "leadership group."[19][20] The ICC later imposed a one-match ban on Smith and handed Bancroft three demerit points.[21]Cricket Australia then imposed further sanctions against Bancroft, Smith andDavid Warner, meaning they would not take part in the fourth Test.[22] Cricket Australia launched a separate investigation into the incident as a matter of urgency.[23]
Cricket Australia CEOJames Sutherland announced that, as a result of the preliminary investigation into the incident, Smith, Warner and Bancroft had been charged with bringing the game into disrepute, suspended and sent home.[24] Warner was later found to be responsible for developing the plan to tamper with the ball and instructing Bancroft on how to do it. Bancroft was found to have carried out those instructions, tried to conceal evidence and misled match officials by denying knowledge of the tampering. As a result, Bancroft received a 9-month ban from international and domestic cricket in Australia and was banned from any leadership role for 1 further year after the initial ban was completed.[25]
Somerset County Cricket Club announced that Bancroft would not be joining the county as its overseas player for the 2018 season, as had been planned.[26]
Bancroft made a return to professional cricket on 30 December 2018, playing for thePerth Scorchers in the2018–19 Big Bash League season.[2] In the match, he scored two runs from three balls,[27] with theHobart Hurricanes going on to win the game by 6 wickets.[28] Bancroft went on to make 296 runs in 10 games in the season, including a career best score of 87 not out during a game against theSydney Sixers, for which he was awarded man of the match.[29]
In February 2019, Bancroft returned to first-class cricket, playing for Western Australia againstNew South Wales in the2018–19 Sheffield Shield. He made an unbeaten 138 in the first innings and 86 in the second. Bancroft faced a total of 621 balls in the match, falling 28 balls short of former Australian captainSteve Waugh's record of most balls faced in a Shield match.[30]
Later in the year, he was appointed captain ofDurham County Cricket Club in England for the 2019 season.[31] While the move to make him captain was criticised by some members of the public, it was supported byDurham director of cricketMarcus North[31] as well as former Australian captain, teammate and fellow ball-tampering conspirator,Steve Smith.[32] In his one-day debut for Durham againstNorthamptonshire, Bancroft scored 150 not out off 130 balls.[33]
The aftermath of the ball-tampering scandal and the challenges of returning to professional cricket took a toll on Bancroft's mental health. He openly discussed his struggles, as well as the pressures and expectations faced by professional athletes.[34]
In July 2019, Bancroft was named inAustralia's squad for the2019 Ashes series in England. He made his international return in the first Test at Edgbaston at the beginning of August.[35][36] He played the first two Tests, scoring 8, 7, 13 and 16, and was dropped for the third Test.
 | ||