Cameron Bancroft wants Sam Whiteman in Test opener conversation

Cameron Bancroft says it took time to “digest” being overlooked from Australia’s Test squad last month as he also put his state opening partner forward for national selection amid debate over Steve Smith’s position after his struggles in New Zealand.

In the wake of being overlooked for Test recall, and preparing for another Sheffield Shield final with WA, Bancroft conceded he found the second half of the season “challenging” but was focusing on the “consolations” to come out of missing out on David Warner’s opening spot to a repurposed Smith.

He also said his state captain, Sam Whiteman should be in future conversations for national selection, having made 658 runs including two centuries at 38.70 this season, after playing a key role in the last two Shield titles with more than 600 runs in both campaigns.

Whiteman’s numbers don’t stack up to Bancroft’s 778 runs at 48.62 this summer, but the 10-Test opener said his partner was deserving of a closer look from Australian selectors.

“Yeah, I am a little bit sometimes,” Bancroft said when asked if he was surprised when Whiteman did not figure in conversations about replacing Warner.

“I think his game is in unbelievable order and how he’s reinvented himself as an opening batter – he probably played 50 first-class games as a keeper-batter.

“His ability at the top of the order is underrated, and he’s an excellent leader. He’s a guy at the top of his game, and should definitely be in the conversation for those opportunities, I think he’s playing well enough for sure.”

Bancroft said he had enjoyed playing on more bowler-friendly pitches in recent weeks as he overcame three consecutive failures to post an important half-century as the Warriors sealed another home final with a win over Victoria.

“Naturally as a top order player you’re going to get out sometimes, but it’s also been nice to fight through some tough periods and have a bit of success as well,” he said.

“Naturally I was obviously very disappointed when that time (missing the Test squad) came – I would’ve loved to be in that environment.

“But there were some consolations to come out of it, and I’ve just tried to stay with those and go about my business.

“Sometimes as players in sport it’s just about moving on to the next thing always, but on this occasion I sort of felt like I actually needed to allow myself to be a little bit disappointed, and that was actually OK.”

Bancroft had high praise for teammate Corey Rocchiccioli, who put together the best Shield season by a finger spinner for more than 40 years with his 39 wickets at 29.92.

The 26-year-old has played every game on the way to the final after overtaking Ashton Agar in the longer format, and is challenging the notion Victoria’s Todd Murphy is the natural Test successor to Nathan Lyon.

“He’s definitely told us about (the record), he’s absolutely all over it! It’s that belief and that confidence he has in himself that’s allowed him to do what he’s done this year,” Bancroft said.

“He’s a good learner – you don’t hear too many spinners say ‘I can’t wait to come back and bowl spin at the WACA’, and he’s really embraced that over his journey as a professional cricketer.

“He can take wickets, he’s held up an end really well and allowed our quicks to rotate from the other end … (his season) is a credit to the hard work that he’s put in.”