It was nine months in the making, but Cameron Bancroft’s return to top-flight cricket lasted just three balls.

The right-handed batsman made his much-anticipated return from a ball-tampering ban for Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League on Sunday in Launceston. He found himself in the middle earlier than expected, with the Scorchers crumbling to 16-3 in the fourth over against Hobart Hurricanes.

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Facing firey quick Riley Meredith, Bancroft tucked ball No 1 off his pads for two. Meredith replied with a bouncer, ruled a wide. Bancroft blocked the next delivery, but on legal ball No 3, prodded outside off stump and edged behind to Matthew Wade as the Scorchers fell to 16-4.

“That return we were all waiting for has come to an abrupt end,” said Ricky Ponting, the former Test skipper Ricky Ponting, on commentary on Fox Sports.

Leaving the field, the 26-year-old Bancroft received a warm round of applause from the Launceston crowd.

Bancroft revealed in a Boxing Day interview that David Warner told him to use sandpaper on the ball in the Cape Town Test against South Africa.

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Former England spinner Phil Tufnell couldn’t resist taking a crack at Bancroft, who played eight Tests for Australia before suspension, while commentating. “I just hope his mother sewed his pockets up,” Tufnell joked.

The Hurricanes, anchored by 32 from Ashton Agar and 29 from Hilton Cartwright, cruised to a six-wicket win, chasing down the Scorchers’ 107-8 with 15 balls in hand.