The inside info that earned Bancroft an Ashes spot

Cameron Bancroft says his time spent playing county cricket this season has provided him with the intel he needed to produce the match-winning knock that secured his Ashes spot.

Bancroft was yesterday named in Australia's 17-man squad for the Ashes, his first Test tour since his nine-month ban expired late last December.

While it has been a long road back for the Western Australian, he is right where he wants to be; heading to Birmingham on the Australian team bus for the first Ashes Test on Thursday. 

But he might not have been on that bus if it was not for his stint at county side Durham this year, where picked up the valuable experience that helped him craft a four-hour, unbeaten 93 on a hazardous pitch to guide his side home in the all-Australian intra-squad clash in Southampton this week.

"Certainly, up in Durham, dealing with sideways movement is part of batting up there," said Bancroft, who has averaged 45 in Division Two of the County Championship this season.  

"You don't always feel like you're 100 per cent on top of the bowling or the game but you just do the best you can while feeling a little bit uncomfortable out there, not feeling in complete control. 

"I think they were the conditions in Southampton and it was nice to be able to do that and I'm sure I learned a lot at Durham.

"There were times out there when I felt like 'I've seen this before, this is like batting at the Riverside (Durham's home ground) a little bit'. That's learning, I guess." 

It was that innings across Wednesday and Thursday that proved key in Bancroft earning a Test recall, according to national selector Trevor Hohns, who was impressed with how Bancroft toughed it out in difficult conditions.   

"He's the type of player we think we need in our Australian side," Hohns said on Friday.

"He's tough, he's enthusiastic, his work ethic is fantastic. And he's infectious.  

"We need people like that, people who want to continue to improve their game, and who are hard-nosed and tough. He fits the bill." 

Bancroft certainly earned his Ashes ticket the hard way.

The 26-year-old was hit multiple times and floored twice when hit in the groin at the Rose Bowl. (He only needs to talk to state teammate Mitch Marsh about troubles than can be caused by being hit in such a vulnerable area. It's led to Marsh wearing two protectors, with extra padding). 

But Bancroft says he'd prefer to be struck than be dismissed, which is why his teammates joke that their opener has a few screws loose.

"I'd certainly much rather get hit than get out at times," Bancroft said.

"You just stick to a game plan you think's going to be successful out there and as much as the ball was going up and down – frighteningly at times – the ball just nipping back and being able to attack your stumps, for me was far more dangerous than worrying about the ball was that bouncing a bit. 

"But they're potentially conditions we could face at some point in the series and I guess you learn from the past and that helps you in the future."

It’s a not-so-new but definitely improved Bancroft that has been included in Australia's Ashes squad, a confident batsman who has used his time away from the game to tweak his technique and batting approach.

"I think I’m an improved cricketer to what I was then, definitely," he said. 

"I’ve worked on a lot of parts to my game; where my bat comes down, my back-foot play, how I move my feet, everything.  

"You’re just fine-tuning all those details to be a better cricketer.

"I’ve had a lot of time to be off the park and in the nets to do that and I guess each time you play it is an opportunity to make that a part of your batting.  

"That learning process is never-ending and I’ll keep working hard." 

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

First Test: August 1-5,Edgbaston

Tour match: Australians v Worcestershire, August 7-9

Second Test: August 14-18,Lord's

Third Test: August 22-26, Headingley

Tour match: Australians v Derbyshire, August 29-31

Fourth Test: September 4-8, Old Trafford

Fifth Test: September 12-16, The Oval