In the event that David Warner, the famous Australian opener, decides to retire from Test cricket in January, Ricky Ponting feels that Cameron Bancroft is the ideal contender to take his position.

Ponting feels that Bancroft has moved to the head of the line because to his exceptional domestic play in Australia over the past few years. This is in contrast to Marcus Harris and Matthew Renshaw, who have been engaged as reserve batters in touring squads in recent times.

"If you look at those three guys, I think it's quite clear that Bancroft is the one that's got the runs on the board and I wouldn't be surprised if they (selectors) go that way," Ponting told Australian radio station SEN on Thursday.

"If you wind the clock back about six months it might have been a slightly different order than what it is now. I think they probably had Harris as the one that would come back in a while ago. To me now it sort of feels (there is) a bit more of a groundswell behind Cameron Bancroft getting first crack."

Bancroft of Western Australia is once again the leading run-scorer in the Sheffield Shield. He finished the previous summer with 945 runs, which is about 300 more than the next greatest scorer.

Bancroft, who is 31 years old, was passed over for a spare batting position in Australia's Ashes team in June, despite the fact that he had achieved success in domestic cricket. Marcus Harris was chosen instead.