Disgraced Australian cricketer –Cameron Bancroft has had a conversation with his Western Australia teammate – Michael Klinger, who revealed his true character in his column for Player’s Voice.
The 25-year-old Aussie opener has been suspended by Cricket Australia (CA) along with Captain –Steve Smith and David Warner after being caught using sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball in Cape Town.
Klinger recently had a conversation with Bancroft on WhatsApp following the ball-tampering saga while the opener was still waiting to learn his fate for using sandpaper.
He shared some insights of the emotional chat, saying his response shows his real character and tells fans he is not a "bad bloke".
Michael wrote, “(My message) was something along the lines of, 'Thinking of you, mate'. I'm sure he'd received hundreds of similar ones. The guy's world was being turned upside down and there are plenty of people like me who care for him. His response summed up what Bangers, the person, is all about.”
Klinger further added, “He thanked me, then turned the discussion to my family. He said my wife, Cindy, is going through something of far greater significance than what he was experiencing in South Africa. That, he added, was true perspective. Cindy was diagnosed with breast cancer a few months ago. Personally, I think that’s a pretty remarkable way for a 25-year-old bloke to respond in the middle of the biggest crisis of his life, one that was being documented all over the world.”
The Victorian cricketer also asked the fans for support, saying Bancroft is not a criminal. He further added, “I'm not condoning what happened in Cape Town. What I am trying to provide is some balance and context to some of the portrayals of Cam that have been aired over the last week. I don't know Steve Smith and Dave Warner well enough to do that, but Cam I do. He's not a criminal. He's not a bad bloke. He's a kid who made a mistake, the consequences of which he will live with for the rest of his life. He has endured public scorn, experienced humiliation and dealt with sanctions that will hurt him financially, professionally and reputationally. That’s a lot for any human being to go through. It’s time to support him.”
He believes that Bancroft should be given second chance to prove himself and is confident that he will see him in baggy green again and make the Kangaroos proud again.
Klinger signed off by saying, “I reckon Cam has got what it takes. This won't be the last we'll see of him in the baggy green. He'll make the country proud again.”
