AUSTRALIA’S next wicketkeeper Cameron Bancroft thought his first international chance would come in red-ball cricket, not in the Twenty20 arena.

Bancroft, New Zealand-bound gloveman Matthew Wade’s replacement for Sunday’s third T20 against India at the SCG, had no expectations in representing his country in limited overs.

Wade will keep against India in Melbourne on Friday before heading across the Tasman the following day for the one-day series against the Black Caps which starts in Auckland on Wednesday.

“It was a shock to me, a shock to my family and maybe some of my teammates as well,” Bancroft said.

“It’s a privilege to get an opportunity to represent my country and I’m very happy to get that chance.”

Wicketkeeping is nothing foreign to the 23-year-old, who was a regular behind the stumps in his junior years before opting to focus on batting.

But a finger injury to Perth Scorchers’ No. 1 keeper Sam Whiteman gave Bancroft a chance to impress in this summer’s Big Bash League.

Camera Icon Cameron Bancroft can’t wait for his international debut. Credit: News Corp Australia

NZ CALLING: Aussie regulars prepare for next series

“Going into this BBL with the injury to Sam Whiteman, for me it was just about having some fun, going out there, playing some shots, being aggressive and getting out of my comfort zone a little bit,” he said.

“To get an opportunity to keep, show another skillset I’ve got and get an opportunity to get some runs was really nice.”

Bancroft looked set to make his international debut in the Test arena last year as an opening batsman, picked for Australia’s tour of Bangladesh which was cancelled for security reasons.

He was then overlooked for the home series against the Kiwis in favour of Queenslander Joe Burns.

While admitting his non-selection was initially a tough pill to swallow, Bancroft said he learnt from the experience.

“I was disappointed for a little while and probably a little bit lost in my preparation and my thinking about the game but that’s only normal, I think every player in the country would’ve gone through phases like that,” he said.

“I’m just glad I was able to go through and know what it feels like.

“I guess the BBL was a great opportunity to just let all that go and go out and play some shot and have some fun.”

Bancroft, who flies out to Sydney on Friday afternoon, said having Scorchers teammates Andrew Tye and Shaun Marsh in the national squad would help ease his nerves on gameday.

AUSSIE SQUAD FOR 3RD T20 v INDIA: Aaron Finch (c), Cameron Bancroft, Scott Boland, Cameron Boyce, James Faulkner, Travis Head, Nathon Lyon, Chris Lynn, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Tait, Andrew Tye, Shane Watson.