I have never spoken to McDonald
Batter Cameron Bancroft says he is still motivated to earn a recall to Australia's Test side but has never spoken to head coach Andrew McDonald.Opener Bancroft, 32, played the last of his 10 Tests against England in 2019.He was dropped after four failures at the start of that summer's Ashes series, having been recalled following his nine-month ban for his role in Australia's ball-tampering scandal the previous year.Asked if he believes the scandal is a factor in McDonald's thinking, Bancroft told the BBC's Stumped podcast: "I would like to think not."I have just been outside of that environment. "The coaches have been focused on the team and the players involved. "It is difficult to communicate with everybody."
McDonald became Australia coach in April 2022 in place of Justin Langer. Under McDonald's leadership, Australia won the 2023 World Cup, retained the Ashes in England in 2023 and won last winter's Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. Bancroft said he has spoken to Australia's selectors - head selector George Bailey chairs meetings - in that time.The Western Australian was the leading top-order batter across the 2022-23 and 2023-24 Sheffield Shield seasons when David Warner and Usman Khawaja were secure as Australia's openers and then Steve Smith was promoted following Warner's retirement.With Smith moved back down to number four at the start of the last Australian summer an vacancy became available but Bancroft had a poor run of form and was overlooked for Nathan McSweeney and then 19-year-old Sam Konstas."Timing wasn't great," Bancroft said."Also the reality is form comes and goes, runs come and go. That's just cricket."I have never spoken to Andrew McDonald. "He has never spoken to me either. Understandably his focus is with the Australia team and that absolutely makes sense."Bancroft is currently captaining Gloucestershire in the County Championship and began the season with 163 against Glamorgan.Konstas impressed with 60 on his Test debut against India in December but was overlooked for Australia's most recent Test series in Sri Lanka, leaving doubt around who will partner Khawaja when Australia play South Africa in the World Test Championship final at Lord's in June."Of course that [an Australia recall] is something that motivates me," Bancroft said."I just try and go about my business and enjoy playing wherever I am, giving 100% to each ball and moment. "I know the way cricket works. It is still a driving force. I am just looking to enjoy my cricket and do my best."
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