Cameron Bancroft returns to WA cricket after exemption from ball tampering ban
Cameron Bancroft has returned to cricket in Western Australia, turning out for home club Willetton against Midland-Guildford in the Premier Cricket competition.
It was the first time the batsman has played in WA since being sensationally banned for his role in the ball tampering scandal, in which he used sandpaper to scratch the ball during the third Test of this summer's South Africa tour.
Former captain Steve Smith and deputy David Warner were also banned for 12 months for their role in the incident and have since returned to cricket in New South Wales.
Bancroft was named captain of his longtime club side after leading pre-season training at Willetton.
In front of 19 spectators at Burrendah Park, south of Perth, Bancroft gathered his side in a pre-innings huddle, before taking to the field.
Fielding at second slip, it took just four overs for the former Australian opener to be involved, diving forward to claim a sharp catch, to remove Midland-Guildford's opener.
He took another two catches — including a nice diving left-handed take — as Willetton reduced Midland-Guildford to 7-66 after 32 overs.
Midland-Guildford were eventually dismissed for 86, leaving Bancroft's side with a regulation run chase.
He was confronted by a small media contingent on his way out to opening the batting.
"I've never seen this much attention for grade cricket," he quipped as he walked out to the middle.
Bancroft was watchful in the opening exchanges, before receiving a dubious caught behind decision, ending his stay in the middle on just four.
It has been a long road back to local cricket for the 25-year-old, who had to receive exemption from the West Australian District Cricket Council to be allowed to play in the Premier competition while serving his ban.
"I had a lot of fun out there today," he said after the match.
"I didn't get the runs I was after, but the game is greater than that, and to be back playing for Willetton is awesome, great memories at this club.
"Our players bowled really well this morning, really enjoyed it out there, that's why I play the game, that's what it's all about."
What Bancroft's learned off-field
Bancroft has been in Melbourne for the past month, before he returned to play for Willetton.
"It's been a couple of months since I played cricket. I played in Darwin in the Strike League, which was a couple of months ago," Bancroft said.
"The last month I was in Melbourne doing a yoga teacher trainer course, which was absolutely awesome.
"Being able to detach myself from cricket has been been one of the biggest lessons I've had to learn.
"You don't realise how [big] a part of you the game is until you have a really massive experience like Cape Town was."
Under the WA Premier Cricket rule, any Cricket Australia ban automatically extended to club level, which meant Bancroft would not have been able to return to cricket until December.
That was different to the New South Wales grade rules, which allowed Smith and Warner to play while serving their bans.
Bancroft faced the prospect of moving interstate to play club cricket if the exemption was not granted, with the New South Wales Cricket Association saying it would welcome him.
Bancroft's previous county contract with Somerset was ripped up in the wake of the scandal, despite the ban not preventing him, Smith and Warner, from playing overseas.
Warner and Smith both had their multi-million-dollar Indian Premier League contracts cancelled.
WA and the Perth Scorchers retained Bancroft on a list of contracted players despite his ban, while recently appointed Australian coach Justin Langer said he would welcome the banned three back into the national fold, once their bans were complete.
Bancroft is still ineligible for domestic and international cricket.
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ABC .net
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