Cameron Bancroft’s promising career took an unfortunate turn this year when he was found guilty of ball-tampering during the Cape Town Test against South Africa in March this year. The Australia opener was caught attempting to use sandpaper on the ball during day three of the third Test.
The cameras had caught him red-handed, trying to tamper with the ball. Cricket Australia took stern actions and slapped lengthy bans on Bancroft as well as Steve Smith and David Warner. While Bancroft received a nine-month ban, his senior teammates were banned for a year.
Bancroft, who made his return to competitive cricket through the Darwin League, is now all set to return to Big Bash League. His 9-month ban will end on December 29 and he is likely to feature for Perth Scorchers in their clash against Hobart Hurricanes on December 30. And just a few days ahead of his BBL return, he has spoken on the scandal for the first time and have made some eye-popping revelations.
Read More – Most Runs Over in IPL 2008
The right-hander revealed that it was Warner who encouraged him to tamper with the ball. He went on to say that the desire to get valued in the team made him go ahead with Warner’s suggestion.
“Dave [Warner] suggested to me to carry the action out on the ball given the situation we were in in the game and I didn’t know any better,” Bancroft told Fox Sports. “I didn’t know any better because I just wanted to fit in and feel valued, really — as simple as that.
“The decision was based around my values, what I valued at the time and I valued fitting in … you hope that fitting in earns you respect and with that, I guess, there came a pretty big cost for the mistake. I would have gone to bed and I would have felt like I had let everybody down. I would have felt like I had let the team down. I would have left like I had hurt our chances to win the game of cricket,” he added.
He further said that it was all his mistake as he picked the wrong option after being given the choice.
“I take no other responsibility but the responsibility I have on myself and my own actions because I am not a victim. I had a choice and I made a massive mistake and that is what is in my control,” he added.
Bancroft, who made his debut in the last year’s Ashes at home, has looked impressive at the top. His two fifties in tough conditions of South Africa made it clear that he had a promising career before the scandal struck. In 8 Tests so far, he has scored 402 runs with the help of three fifties.
Must Read – Most Fours Innings in IPL 2008
