Sheffield Shield: Western Australia opener Cam Bancroft makes golden duck in first game of the summer
Test hopeful Cam Bancroft has been dismissed for an untimely golden duck as his bid for a return to Australia’s team ramped up on the first day of the Sheffield Shield season.
Bancroft was caught behind off Queensland seamer Michael Neser’s very first ball of the day at the WACA Ground on Tuesday.
It puts an early dent in his hopes of a return to the Test team at the top of the order for the first time since 2019 and comes after WA legend Mike Hussey called for Bancroft to be picked this summer.
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Matthew Renshaw will open the batting for Queensland in the same game, but selectors have not taken a chance to try Travis Head at the top of the order.
Head will bat in the middle order for South Australia in their clash with New South Wales, where chairman of selectors George Bailey is in attendance.
Meanwhile fellow Test opening hopeful Marcus Harris has batted through the first session and made a half-century in Victoria’s clash with Tasmania at Junction Oval.
WA’s newest fast bowling recruit Brody Couch has been handed a debut.
Couch has not played first-class cricket since his one and only match for his former home Victoria in 2021.
The 24-year-old has been named in a three-man pace attack that also includes shield-winners Cameron Gannon and Matt Kelly.
In an interview with The West Australian during pre-season, Couch said his focus to start the summer was purely on playing good club cricket for Scarborough.
“I feel like I have come over with a bit of a clean slate and a bit of a reset — a bit of a fresh start,” he said.
“My goal was just to come in, work hard and build some respect and try and do my best to give myself the best chance at doing the best I can if an opportunity presents itself, that’s the main thing.
“So playing at Scarborough Cricket Club, that’s point A there, trying to play well in Premier Cricket and second XI with opportunities and see what happens.”
Meanwhile, WA’s one-day captain Ashton Turner has scored an unbeaten century in the first innings of a second XI clash with South Australia in Adelaide.
