BANNED Australian batsman Cameron Bancroft has made an underwhelming return to the cricket field, dismissed for just one in the opening match of the NT Strike League today.

Opening for the Desert Blaze, the 25-year-old was caught at cover off the bowling of Victorian quick Blade Baxter after facing three balls.

It was the first match the opener has played since the infamous sandpaper ball tampering scandal in South Africa which resulted in Bancroft, Australian captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner being banned.

Warner – who will also feature in the Strike League later this month – and Smith both received one year bans from Cricket Australia, while Bancroft received nine months.