Bancroft savours Shield triumph

Western Australian and former Australian opening batsman Cameron Bancroft has hailed the state's drought breaking Sheffield Shield triumph as the highlight of his career, having starred with 141 in the first innings of the final.

The 29 year old, a veteran of 73 first class matches for his state having debuted in 2013 told Sports Breakfast it was a dream come true to win an elusive Shield title for WA.

"Any cricketer who has won a Sheffield Shield regardless of any international cricket they might have played, the pinnacle would almost be winning a Sheffield Shield. To be able to say that I have done that is a pretty special feeling," Bancroft said.

"Shaun (Marsh) has waited 20 years, Sam (Whiteman) and I have been playing for a long time and finally achieved it. It's a pretty amazing feat knowing all the hard work that goes in to it, hopefully it can be the start of something and we can win a few more."

Bancroft's 141 on the opening day set the tone for his side after being sent in to bat on a wicket with a healthy covering of grass, adding 188 for the first wicket with Sam Whiteman to help set up the match.

"You pride yourself as a player wanting to do well for the team in big games, getting sent in was always going to be a challenge. It was nice to play well and set us up in that good partnership with Sam for what really put us in a strong position for the game," Bancroft said.

"It was definitely a special one."

Bancroft, who scored two centuries in his last four innings of the summer after a tough start to the campaign was full of praise for state and Willetton club team mate Aaron Hardie, who claimed three wickets and was unbeaten on 174 in the second innings to announce himself as a player of potential in Australian cricket.

"The sky's the limit for Hards," he said.

" Just the strong influence he's got with bat and ball. His batting has come a quite a long way and I thought the opportunity he also got to open the bowling with the new ball and swing it and take some really key wickets for us, I think he's been outstanding."

"He's someone to keep an eye on, he's a great package and if he keeps doing well who knows what Aaron Hardie could achieve in the game playing for Australia. It's a possibility for him."

Bancroft also hoped veteran Shaun Marsh would play on in to a 23rd domestic season.

"He's still got a lot of runs in him I think. We will just wait and see."

Here the full chat with Bancroft below.

IMAGE: Cricket Australia.