Bancroft cleared of serious injury

Former Australia opener Cameron Bancroft has been cleared of serious injury and released from hospital in Darwin after he nicked a delivery into his throat on July 21.

Bancroft, who was banned for nine months for his role in a ball-tampering scandal in the test series against South Africa in March, has been playing in Darwin’s Strike League. His ban did not cover lower level cricket in Australia.

Cricket Australia’s website said on Sunday that the ball struck Bancroft in the throat after he miscued a lap sweep while batting for his Desert Blaze team.

He sunk to his knees and took several minutes to compose himself before continuing to bat but was dismissed shortly afterwards for 62 and then taken to hospital.

The 25-year-old suffered a cartilage tear in his trachea, but the injury would heal naturally, the website said.

He was released on July 22 after scans cleared him of any serious injury.