Cameron Bancroft, the Australian batsman, has been given an early release from county side Gloucestershire. Now, Deng is returning to Australia for the 2023-24 season. Bancroft’s absence means he will miss the club’s last three County Championship Division Two fixtures. These pairing competitions are scheduled for September. This shrewd acquisition gives him room to get set for his winter missions with a Western Australia return trip on the cards.
Bancroft came to Gloucestershire in April, and signed a new two-year deal that binds him to the club until at least 2027. He replaced Graeme van Buuren as permanent skipper at the start of this season after the all-rounder decided to stand down from the role. Under his leadership, the team—a powerhouse, until this season—now sits in fifth place in the Division Two table. With only one win, seven ties, and three defeats so far this season, Bancroft’s efforts have been vital.
Bancroft has been one of the unsung heroes of a terrific debut season for Gloucestershire. He is now the second highest run scorer ever in the County Championship. He has hit an incredible 796 runs in only 10 innings thus far. What really comes through is his skills and remarkable resilience on the field. Yet overall, his team’s performance has failed to live up to his individual success.
Sadly, Bancroft will miss the high-profile Ashes series. These matches include an away game against Leicestershire on September 8, a home match against Northamptonshire on September 15, and an away fixture at Middlesex on September 24. His absence will be sorely missed as a bottom-placed Gloucestershire hopes to build on a promising run of form before the season draws to a close.
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