Cameron Bancroft enjoyed an outstanding Big Bash League season for the Perth Scorchers, but is likely to be squeezed out, with a couple of clubs leading the race, DANIEL CHERNY reports.
The Hobart Hurricanes and Sydney Thunder are jostling to secure the services of Cameron Bancroft who will almost certainly depart the Perth Scorchers ahead of next summer’s Big Bash League season.
Bancroft, 30, had an outstanding BBL campaign last summer, working his way back from the periphery of the Scorchers’ side to post 357 runs for the tournament and be part of Perth’s back-to-back title winning side.
But despite the BBL’s salary cap increase, the Scorchers are understood to be struggling to offer him a substantial new deal as a result of their stacked squad, one which has been the envy of the league for much of the competition’s 12-year history.
It has meant that the WA product, whose contract has expired, has been courted by several other clubs. Ultimately it is the Hurricanes and Thunder thought that are still vying for Bancroft’s signature, which cannot come in any case given the BBL remains in its embargo period.
He could help replace the void left by Matthew Wade at the Hurricanes given the Hobart skipper’s increasingly likely move back to the Melbourne Renegades.
The Thunder’s interest also leaves the door ajar that Bancroft could become a BBL teammate of former Test opening partner David Warner, who is signed to the Thunder for next season.
Bancroft will however stay with Western Australia in state cricket after a stellar season in which he led the Sheffield Shield for runs and was considered in some circles to be unlucky to be left off Cricket Australia’s contract list and the ensuing Ashes squad.
New BBL marquee player rules were unveiled during the week, although player movement around the competition was thwarted after a plan to allow contracted players to move as free agents into marquee slots at other clubs was foiled at an advanced stage.
The overseas player draft remains in place however and while CA did not discuss the prospect of draft picks being tradeable this year, clubs believe such a mechanism could be introduced.
Melbourne Stars leg-spinner Adam Zampa will eventually be traded to the Renegades for Sam Harper when the embargo period eventually lifts, while Matt Kuhnemann’s future at Brisbane Heat is up in the air amid interest from clubs including the Stars.
On the domestic front, NSW will soon unveil its new coaching setup, with Greg Shipperd widely expected to continue in the role he took on in an interim capacity and to be assisted by Tasmanian stalwart and former Australian bowling coach Ali De Winter.