Cam Bancroft: David Warner launches scathing criticism of former opening partner with Test spot on the line

David Warner has hit Cam Bancroft with scathing criticism over his technical flaws and says he would not pick his former opening partner to play for Australia again.

The brutal call comes as Bancroft stares down one final opportunity to earn a Test recall in time for Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India from later this month and just weeks after Warner, who retired almost a year ago, spectacularly threw his own hat back in the ring.

The pair will be forever linked by the 2018 sandpaper scandal, over which they were both slapped with bans, but did open together for two more Test matches the following year.

Bancroft has one more opportunity — for Australia A at the MCG from Thursday — to press his claims to a spot in the side for the first time in five years.

But Warner said he would be picking Nathan McSweeney as a makeshift opener after he made 39 and an unbeaten 88 in Australia’s opening match.

“With Cameron Bancroft, his foot is still out to point. If someone’s bowling 140-145km/h, he’s still going to make the same mistake,” Warner said on Fox Cricket during Australia’s first one-day international of the summer.

“In my eyes, it’s about his front foot being pointed out to point and when there is faster air-speed, when the bowlers are bowling faster, he is going to get rolled through, lbw or he’ll get caught in the slips cordon.

“He had that trouble when he was playing for Australia.”

Warner said he would instead pick Victorian Marcus Harris as the travelling reserve, leaving out Bancroft and Konstas.

“Marcus Harris hasn’t had the greatest start that he would like, but I still think he has still got the game,” he said.

“But at the moment, I think McSweeney is probably ahead of him and I think Harris will probably be the travelling reserve.”

Warner made the bizarre claim last month he would open the batting again for Australia if selectors needed him, despite retiring after the last home summer.

“My comment was only, if my phone rang and they called me, if they asked I’m not going to say no,” he said on Monday.

“I’m not going to turn down a game for Australia, but I think a lot of it got taken out of context by some people.

“If I was getting a call, why wouldn’t I say yes?

“I’ve had probably the same preparation (as other candidates), I might need to play a shield game though. I don’t think I’ll be putting the pads on though.”

McSweeney appears to be leading the race for the spot ahead of the second Australia A match, which selectors have slated as the last one before they settle on a squad.

There is a strong chance the South Australian captain opens the batting in that match.

Bancroft batted at No.3 in the opening four-day game in Mackay last week and was dismissed for a duck and 16, although there was controversy surrounding his first dismissal, with the ball appearing to cannon off his thigh pad, rather than bat.