Bancroft's weight of runs builds case for Ashes recall

Western Australia coach Adam Voges has urged national selectors to recall Cameron Bancroft for the Ashes tour after a career-best Sheffield Shield campaign.

CAMERON BANCROFT.
CAMERON BANCROFT. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Cameron Bancroft is preparing for a stint in county cricket as he continues to mount what Adam Voges believes is an irresistible case for an Ashes recall.

Bancroft will return to England on a short-term deal with an undisclosed team after leading Western Australia to consecutive Sheffield Shield title wins.

The 30-year-old opener was easily the season's leading scorer, making four centuries and accumulating 945 runs at an average of 59 - almost 300 runs more than second-placed South Australia batter Daniel Drew.

Bancroft has worked privately with longtime mentor Justin Langer over the past 12 months on both the technical and mental side of his game.

The results have been evident in the sheer weight of runs he has scored across all three formats in a period of dominance for WA cricket.

Voges believes Bancroft, who scored the winning runs in WA's nine-wicket defeat of Victoria in the Shield final, is in career-best form and should be on the plane to England for the World Test Championship final and Ashes series.

"Cameron's been building to a season like this for a little while now," the WA coach said.

"Technically, I think he's in a much better space than he has been previously.

"Batting out here (at the WACA Ground), particularly opening the batting, is not the easiest thing in the world to do. For him to be able to overcome those challenges and then really go on and convert some of those starts into big scores, I'm really pleased for him.

"I think he deserves a spot on the plane to go to England in the winter."

Recalled for the 2019 Ashes tour after serving his ball-tampering suspension, Bancroft failed to convert his chances and was dropped after two Tests.

With doubts over whether David Warner will retain his position at the top of the order, Voges backed Bancroft to make the most of a return to England.

"He's always had those really remarkable powers of concentration and ability to bat for long periods of time and now that he's technically in a better place, I think that just allows him to be able to draw on that strength," Voges said.

"I think you're always more ready the second time around. He'll learn from the experiences and he'll certainly be much better for it."

Former Test batter Voges has his own aspirations of one day coaching Australia, having led WA to seven titles across all formats.

With a year remaining on his contract, Voges said his focus remained on maintaining WA's domestic cricket dominance.

"I'd love to be able to progress as a coach as far as I can," he said.

"Right now at the moment, I love my job, I love working with these players.

"I've got a really young family. I understand the demands of what potential other careers might look like.

"That's something I need to balance up but that's certainly nothing for the near future."