Bancroft breathing easier after Test snub

Western Australia opener Cameron Bancroft says he was relieved when he heard he was not picked for the Test squad to face New Zealand, after all the speculation surrounding a possible debut put pressure on him.

The 22-year-old was not picked, despite mass speculation that he could be, and instead Joe Burns was chosen. Bancroft then went and did what the selectors asked, and scored a century for the Warriors on the weekend.

The young opener said of the talk around a Test cap: "It was impossible to not think about it … it was always around.

"To be perfectly honest, finding out that I wasn't going to be in the squad, if anything, just a weight lifted of your shoulders – you don't have to worry about anything now, you have just got to go out and score runs.

"That was the decision that they went with. I can't do anything about that.

"And certainly for me, scoring big runs and striving for consistency, that is any player's dream and goal. That is what I take away from that message from Rod (Marsh, chief selector).

"And hopefully I can keep making some big hundreds and big scores and you certainly put pressure on other people but also put your state in a good situation and winning games of cricket, which is what it's all about."

Burns took full advantage of his chance, meanwhile, as he scored 71 and a century in Australia's 208-run victory.

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