WA opener Cameron Bancroft is confident he has what it takes to be Australia's next Test wicketkeeper if he's chosen to don the gloves during this summer's Ashes series.
Bancroft has shot into Ashes calculations after starring with the bat in WA's Sheffield Shield loss to NSW.
The 24-year-old carried his bat in scoring an unbeaten 76 in WA's first innings, and he followed it up with 86 in the second dig.
His efforts were all the more meritorious given he was facing what was effectively Australia's first-choice Test bowling attack - Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon.
Bancroft played the match as a wicketkeeper-batsman to fill in for Sam Whiteman, who was nursing a long-term finger injury.
Peter Nevill, Matthew Wade and Alex Carey were thought to be in a three-way battle to keep wicket in the first Test against England, starting on November 23 at the Gabba.
But Bancroft is threatening to crash the selection party after his recent heroics with bat and gloves.
"I never thought I would have got asked to play a T20 game as a keeper-batsman for Australia, so that was certainly left-field," Bancroft said of his sole T20 appearance for Australia in 2016.
"Since then, I think my skills have gotten better.
"It's something I always did growing up. If they asked me to do it (in the Ashes) - 100 per cent, I'd believe in myself and back myself to do a really good job."
Bancroft was selected in the Australian Test squad in 2015 for Bangladesh, but that tour was cancelled over security concerns.
Even if Bancroft is overlooked for the Ashes wicketkeeping role, he could be a chance to slot in solely as a batsman - at opener or at No.6.
That would be music to the ears of Bancroft, who would prefer to make a name for himself as a batsman.
"I would love for my batting to be my No.1 skill and the No.1 skill I'm being recognised for," said Bancroft, who played as WA's wicketkeeper during their recent one-day title triumph.
"I love making runs. Wicketkeeping is a string to my bow, and I'm confident in doing it.
"It's nice to have some different skills to be able to offer."
Bancroft is set to don the gloves again in WA's Shield clash with South Australia from Monday at the WACA Ground.
