Former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has named Cameron Bancroft as the top choice to replace David Warner in the upcoming Test series. However, it was Cameron Green who caught the limelight with an impressive innings for Western Australia. Green narrowly missed out on a century as he scored 96 runs, marking his return to red ball cricket since the Ashes Test in July. His energetic and confident performance included hitting 16 boundaries, helping his team recover from a dangerous position at 3-29 after Queensland declared at 8-274 at the Gabba.
Green’s remarkable performance comes after a grueling touring schedule with the Australian team this year, with Green returning from the World Cup campaign just last week after being on the fringes of the side.
Coach Andrew McDonald has shown interest in rearranging the batting order to include Green in the Test side when Warner steps down after the Pakistan series. However, Ponting expressed his belief that Bancroft, due to his consistent performance over the last two seasons, should be the top choice for the replacement.
Ponting mentioned, “If you look at those three guys, I think it’s quite clear that Bancroft is the one that’s got the runs on the board and I wouldn’t be surprised if (the selectors) go that way.”
Cameron Bancroft’s steady performance has caught the eye of the selectors, leading to consideration for his inclusion in the Test side. However, Ponting suggested that Green may have to patiently wait for his return to the national side, namely due to Mitch Marsh’s current position at No. 6.
On the field, Bancroft fell for just seven runs on the third day, while Green showcased an outstanding performance with a superb 170-run partnership with Hilton Cartwright.
In another Shield match, Will Pucovski’s gritty innings of 65 runs brought the Victorian team to a strong position against South Australia. Pucovski, who batted carefully with Peter Handscomb and Campbell Kellaway, helped set a target of 258 runs for South Australia to win.
At the SCG, New South Wales staged an impressive fightback to secure a significant victory over Tasmania. The visitors were rolled for just 68 runs, falling short in their pursuit of a 143-run victory target. The extraordinary third day saw a total of 24 wickets fall, with veteran paceman Chris Tremain playing a crucial role in securing an unforgettable win for New South Wales.
Tremain’s remarkable performance, with fellow veteran Jackson Bird contributing to taking crucial wickets, reflected the intense competition between the two teams. The high number of wickets and the challenging conditions highlighted the resilience and skill of the players.
The article details the notable performances and pivotal moments from the recent Shield matches, providing an engaging and informative overview of the exciting cricketing action.