Ponting believes Bancroft heads race to replace Warner

Andrew McDonald has suggested the idea of reorganizing the batting order, but the ex-captain advised against implementing it.

Cameron Bancroft has emerged as the top-performing batsman in the past two Sheffield Shield seasons.

Ricky Ponting advocates for Cameron Bancroft to step into David Warner's shoes when the seasoned Australian opener retires from Test cricket in January.

Bancroft, the leading run-scorer in the Sheffield Shield with 945 runs, a substantial margin ahead of his closest competitor last season, continues to showcase his domestic prowess. 

However, despite his remarkable performance, the 31-year-old was passed over in favor of Marcus Harris for a vacant batting position in Australia's Ashes squad in June.

Harris and Queenslander Matt Renshaw emerge as potential contenders for the opening partnership with Usman Khawaja following David Warner's farewell at the SCG. All three players, including Cameron Bancroft, will have an opportunity to showcase their skills for the Prime Minister's XI against Pakistan in Canberra next week.

Despite this, Ricky Ponting argues that Bancroft deserves a Test recall, emphasizing his prolific run-scoring record. Ponting expressed his belief that, among the three candidates, Bancroft stands out as the one with a substantial track record and wouldn't be surprised if selectors lean in his direction.

While Australia coach Andrew McDonald contemplates a batting order adjustment to accommodate allrounder Cameron Green, Ponting urges caution, suggesting that Green should earn his place through strong performances in the Sheffield Shield with Western Australia.

Notably, the highly talented 24-year-old Green faced a setback during the Ashes, being dropped after his maiden Test century, making way for Mitchell Marsh.

According to Ponting, Cameron Green may need to patiently wait for an opportunity to rejoin the Test side, emphasizing the importance of Green accumulating significant runs in Shield cricket to earn his place back. Ponting acknowledges Marnus Labuschagne's outstanding performance at number three, considering it a specialized position.

Ponting also advocates for the inclusion of Glenn Maxwell in the Test squad, highlighting Maxwell's remarkable success in white-ball cricket in India. Despite Maxwell's last Test appearance being in 2017, Ponting believes his recent international centuries, particularly the extraordinary 201 not out against Afghanistan, make a compelling case for his return to Test cricket.

As Australia prepares to host Pakistan and the struggling West Indies in the upcoming Test summer, Ponting, who led Australia to World Cup titles in 2003 and 2007, advises Pat Cummins' team to maintain their aggressive approach. He encourages them to go all out and secure convincing wins against the upcoming opponents.

The squad for the first Test in Perth is anticipated to be announced shortly after the ongoing round of Sheffield Shield matches and before the PM's XI contest.

Masood is not considered a 'sacrificial lamb' in the role of captaincy but is eager to embrace the responsibility and find joy in leading the team

The recently appointed Test captain expresses contentment with his current state of mind and aims to gain insights from the various captaincy roles he has undertaken in the recent past.

Shan Masood faces the challenge of improving his recent Test performances and making up ground in that aspect.

Shan Masood's recent role as the Test captain of Pakistan stands out as a notable chapter in a career marked by transformations. His unexpected appointment as Babar Azam's successor raised eyebrows, especially considering his return to the Test side just last season after nearly a two-year absence and with only one fifty to his name since then. Earlier in the year, his surprising recall to the ODI side came with the additional twist of being named vice-captain but facing exclusion from the XI amid speculation about a strained relationship with then captain Babar.

Masood's captaincy debut is set against the backdrop of a challenging task – leading a tour of Australia, a place where Pakistan has suffered whitewashes in their last five tours. The timing of this tour aligns with the country's general elections in February, linking the board's future to the team's performance. A defeat in Australia could potentially lead to a change in administration, putting Masood's position at risk.

Despite these challenges, less than 24 hours before the team's departure to Australia, Masood refrained from viewing himself as a "sacrificial lamb."

Since his return to Test cricket, Shan Masood has maintained an average of under 25, yet his strike rate is close to 78.

Under Masood's captaincy, Pakistan secured all three of their victories, with Masood himself averaging 60 in the seven matches he played, including two centuries and three half-centuries.

Reflecting on his leadership journey, Masood highlighted pivotal moments such as captaining Multan Sultans under Andy Flower, a turning point in his career. His experiences at Derbyshire and the challenging Yorkshire project provided valuable off-field and on-field lessons, shaping him as a cricketer.

While Masood hasn't posted significant scores since his return to the Test side, his role in Pakistan's series win in Sri Lanka showcased his attacking approach, contributing to the team's aggressive batting style. Despite averaging less than 25, his striking rate of nearly 78, including a County Championship strike rate of 77.50, demonstrates his intent.

As Pakistan heads to Australia, Masood aims for more substantial scores, building on the contributions he made in Sri Lanka. Emphasizing his recent satisfaction with domestic cricket, he hopes to carry his good form into the international arena.

The backroom staff accompanying Pakistan to Australia includes Adam Hollioake as the batting coach, leveraging his local knowledge, and Simon Helmot as the high-performance coach. With Hafeez as the director, Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal assume roles as fast bowling and spin bowling coaches, completing the revamped 17-man support team.