Bancroft focused on county stint

Ashes hopeful Cameron Bancroft believes he is now a better batsman than the one that played eight Tests for Australia more than a year ago.

Bancroft hasn't represented his country since the infamous Cape Town Test against South Africa in March last year that saw the talented opener receive a nine-month ban for his part in the ball tampering scandal.

He played Premier Cricket in Western Australia for Willetton during his time out of the top flight, before making an impressive return from his ban with the Perth Scorchers in the KFC Big Bash last summer.

While admitting the past 12 months had been tough for him, Bancroft says he is now a better player as he has had time to reflect on the things he did well and improve the areas he didn't.

"When you're playing a lot of games you don't necessarily have the times to work on the little things that put the performance together," Bancroft said on RSN's Breakfast Club.

"I was able to do that... I had some great mentors in Western Australia that were supporting me. 

"It was really, honestly, a lot about the basics. When you can apply them in grade cricket that was pretty good practice. 

"If I wasn't getting better as a player I'd be going backwards so I think the fact there's a bit more consistency and I'm playing a bit better, I think that's a real positive."

Bancroft finished BBL|08 as the Scorchers second leading run scorer with 298 runs from 11 innings and has translated that good form across to county cricket with Durham over the past month.

The right-hander has already made two centuries as captain for Durham in England's domestic one-day competition and will be keen to carry that form across to red ball cricket when the four-day matches re-commence next month.

Bancroft will continue to play with Durham while many other Ashes hopefuls attempt to impress selectors during the Australia A tour of England and the talented opener is hoping a successful county stint will put him in line for a Test recall.

"The Aussie A stuff I wasn't too concerned about as I had made a commitment to the club," he said.

"They've implemented a lot of great things and I want to be a positive part of that.

"If I'm performing well what comes down the future will be but I'm having a lot of fun right now and I'll continue to do that."

In the meantime, Bancroft will channel all his energies on trying to improve as a player and continue to learn the intricacies of being a captain under the watchful eye of former Western Australia teammate and Durham director of cricket Marcus North.

"Marcus asked me if I would be interested in doing it (captaining) as they (Durham) had a lot of players involved in the club that were pretty keen to focus on their own games," Bancroft said.

"It's been challenging so far. Getting to know each of the players has been the most important thing. 

"Out in the middle when making decisions it's difficult at times when you don't know what players are able to do or you're playing against players you don't truly know. 

"I've found that really challenging and, one-day cricket, I've learned heaps about tactically how I can improve things moment to moment and I've got good people around me."

Qantas Ashes Tour of the UK 2019

Tour match: Australia v Australia A, Hampshire, July 23-26

First Test: August 1-5 at Edgbaston, Birmingham

Tour match: Australia v Worcestershire, August 7-9

Second Test: August 14-18 at Lord's, London

Third Test: August 22-26 at Headingley, Leeds

Tour match: Australia v Derbyshire, August 29-31

Fourth Test: September 4-8 at Old Trafford, Manchester

Fifth Test: September 12-16 at The Oval, London