Cameron Bancroft lasts three balls on return from 9-month ban

Cameron Bancroft made only two runs on his return from a nine-month ban for ball-tampering as the Perth Scorchers lost 16-3 to the Hobart Hurricanes in the domestic “Big Bash” T20 competition at Launceston on Sunday.

The right-handed Australian batsman, whose ban ended on Saturday, lasted only three balls on his awaited return.

Along with Bancroft, who was caught using sand-paper to alter the condition of the ball, then Australian-captain Steven Smith and his deputy David Warner were banned for their part in the tampering scandal. Their suspensions end in March 2019.

Long awaited return

Facing fast bowler Riley Meredith, Bancroft tucked ball No 1 off his pads for two. He defended his next delivery before edging the third to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade as the Scorchers fell to 19-4.

“That return we were all waiting for has come to an abrupt end,” said the former Test skipper Ricky Ponting, on commentary on Fox Sports.

Leaving the field, the 26-year-old batsman received a warm round of applause from the crowd.

As a wicket keeper, Bancroft took a diving catch and another regulation one in the Hurricanes’ chase.

He will have a chance to earn an Australia recall when he resumes as a top-order batsman for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield in February.