After nine months of hell, Cameron Bancroft's bat is doing his talking again with the Perth, and he's making quite the statement with two knocks that have kept the Scorchers' Big Bash League season alive.
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Bancroft gained recognition throughout the cricketing world for all the wrong reasons when he was the centre of the ball tampering controversy in South Africa in March.
His subsequent nine-month suspension provided some challenging moments, but the 26-year-old has now played five BBL games and is in some sparkling form.
After struggling in his first three games back for the Scorchers with scores of two, 19 and 24, while wicket-keeping in losses, he made a terrific 59 in 42 balls in Wednesday's win over the Melbourne Stars.
That was just Perth's second victory in seven games and they needed to keep winning as the side returned to Optus Stadium on Sunday against the Sydney Sixers, in the first of four straight home games.
The Sixers were sent in to bat first by Scorchers captain Ashton Turner and posted 5-177, but once Bancroft came together with Turner in the run chase the home side took charge.
The pair put together 98 runs in their stand in just 62 balls before Turner was out for a scintillating 60 in 30 balls, with his half century coming in just 22 deliveries.
Bancroft carried his bat the whole innings, hitting eight fours and a six and finishing 87 not out from 61 balls.
His ability to find the boundary, exploit gaps in the field and run well between the wickets shows Bancroft could be more than just a Test batsman for Australia moving forward.
Having gone through what he did in 2018, Bancroft said he is enjoying being able to focus on his cricket again.
"I'm literally just turning up to training every day and trying to be better, it's as simple as that," he said.
"I'm not trying too hard and am enjoying this great game. I'm having a lot of fun out here whether it's my day or it isn't. I'm just really grateful to be here, it's awesome."
After building some momentum with consecutive wins, Bancroft's focus is now on keeping the Scorchers' winning form going with three home games to come starting Friday against the Hobart Hurricanes.
"In this tournament we need to win games of cricket so it's another tick tonight and we'll move forward against the Hurricanes later this week," Bancroft said.
"We've won two games in a row now so hopefully we can keep that going. Twenty20 is a game of luck sometimes, it goes your way and you are able to come off.
"That's two games in a row we've put some good performances together and now it's time to keep going."
Australian Associated Press
