Australian cricketing legend Ricky Ponting believes Cameron Bancroft is leading the race to succeed David Warner and partner Usman Khawaja at the top of Australia's Test batting order.
Warner announced earlier this year that he plans to retire from the longest form of the game following the upcoming SCG Test against Pakistan and there are a host of openers eyeing off his place in the Australian team.
While Marcus Harris and Matthew Renshaw have been used as reserve batters in recent touring parties, Ponting thinks Bancroft has jumped to the front of the queue on the back of some sensational form at domestic level in Australia over the last few years.
The 31-year-old scored four centuries and made more runs than any other player during the 2022/23 summer in Australia’s domestic Sheffield Shield competition and is once again among the top run-scorers this season.
While Bancroft hasn't played for his country since 2019, Ponting expects the in-form right-hander will be given another chance at international level.
"If you look at those three guys, I think it's quite clear that Bancroft is the one that's got the runs on the board and I wouldn't be surprised if they (selectors) go that way," Ponting told Australian radio station SEN on Thursday.
