It was nine months in the making, but Cameron Bancroft's return to top flight cricket lasted just three balls.
The right-handed batsman made his much-anticipated return from a ball-tampering ban for Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League on Sunday in Launceston.
Short stay: Cameron Bancroft's return to the game with Perth Scorchers lasted just three balls.Credit:AAP
He found himself in the middle earlier than expected, with the Scorchers crumbling to 3-16 in the fourth over against Hobart Hurricanes.
Facing fiery quick Riley Meredith, Bancroft tucked ball No.1 off his pads for two.
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Meredith replied with a bouncer, ruled a wide.
Bancroft blocked the next delivery, but on legal ball number three prodded outside off stump and edged behind to Matthew Wade as the Scorchers fell to 4-16.
"That return we were all waiting for has come to an abrupt end," former Test skipper Ricky Ponting said in commentary on Fox Sports.
Leaving the field, the 26-year-old Bancroft received a warm round of applause from the Launceston crowd.
Bancroft revealed in a Boxing Day interview that David Warner told him to use sandpaper on the ball in the Cape Town Test against South Africa.
Former England spinner Phil Tufnell couldn't resist taking a crack an Bancroft, who played eight Tests for Australia before suspension, in commentary.
"I just hope his mother sewed his pockets up," Tufnell joked.
Bancroft also said he used his time away from the game to immerse himself in yoga, dabble in Spanish and learn more about himself.
AAP
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