Wes Agar stops Bancroft in his tracks as South Australia declare early edge

South Australia 27 for 0 path Western Australia 241 (Bancroft 57, Cartwright 56, Agar 6-42) by 214 runs

On the identical day that Matt Renshaw and Marcus Harris each failed of their respective Shield matches, Bancroft struck a gentle 57 on day one in Adelaide.

With Western Australia all out late within the day, South Australia went to stumps at 27 with out loss with an early benefit within the fixture.

Agar was earlier the star with the ball for the Redbacks, claiming career-best figures to tear by means of the guests’ center and decrease order.

But it was Bancroft who retains knocking on the door of nationwide selectors. Patient early, the opener hit Nathan McAndrew for 2 boundaries within the over earlier than lunch earlier than he was caught behind pushing at one exterior off stump from Agar.

With David Warner set to retire after the SCG Test in opposition to Pakistan in January, it’s Bancroft who has made the loudest assertion to take his spot for the remainder of the summer season. He started the Shield season with 122 in opposition to Victoria in Perth, earlier than backing it up with 91 in opposition to Tasmania.

Harris, who has lengthy been considered as subsequent in line by Australia’s selectors, was handed a nationwide contract earlier this 12 months and brought as a back-up batsman on the Ashes.

But Victoria’s opener has began the season poorly, with Thursday’s first-ball duck in opposition to New South Wales coming after scores of 0 and 10 in his different Shield match in opposition to Queensland. Renshaw scored 7 on Thursday in opposition to Tasmania, after scores of 17, 55 and 135 to begin the season.

Bancroft’s innings took him previous 6000 first-class runs for Western Australia, making him the twelfth participant to take action. The opener’s runs additionally made him the highest scorer for WA, who had a number of batters make begins with out occurring.

Sam Whiteman scored 30 on the high in a 43-run stand with Bancroft, whereas Teague Wylie confronted his first 25 balls with out scoring earlier than being caught behind for 22.