Star WA opening batter Cameron Bancroft has been ruled out of the Sheffield Shield final against Tasmania.
A WA Cricket spokesperson has confirmed Bancroft suffered an injury after falling off his bike.
Bancroft suffered a concussion in the incident and will take no part in the match, which is scheduled to take place at the WACA Ground from Thursday.
Bancroft was his state’s leading run-scorer this Shield season, and one of the key reasons the side qualified for a third straight final.
The 31-year-old scored 778 runs in the campaign at an average of 48.62, second only to Tasmanian Beau Webster.
Bancroft’s absence will be a blow for Western Australia in their bid to land a third successive Shield title.
The last time the state won three Sheffield Shields in a row was from 1986/87 to 1988/89.
Earlier this season, Bancroft — who was banned from the game for nine months for his part in the ball-tampering scandal in 2018 — said he hoped Australian selectors would take note of his form in picking a replacement for the retiring David Warner.
“It’s something I really want,” he said.
“I feel like I’m physically, mentally and emotionally ready to take that opportunity.
“The past has been a great ground for me to learn things about myself, and I feel like I owe it to my country to put those lessons into play.
“We all make mistakes in the world, and I’ve definitely done that in my playing career. It’s pretty obvious that’s the case for me.”
Instead selectors opted to move Steve Smith up the order to replace Warner as opener, but the former captain has made an underwhelming start in the position.
Smith has averaged 28.50 since the move, and scored just 51 runs during a recent two-Test series in New Zealand.
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