As a result of a Cricket Australia investigation into a ball tampering incident during the Third Test against South Africa in March 2018, Bancroft and two others, Steve Smith and David Warner (Captain and Vice Captain), were charged by Cricket Australia on 27 March 2018 with bringing the game into disrepute, suspended, and sent home from the tour. The next day, as a result of his involvement in the ball tampering incident, Cricket Australia banned Bancroft from all international and domestic cricket for nine months, and he will not be considered for a leadership role in Australian cricket before March 2020. Bancroft made his return to cricket on 30 December 2018, playing for the Perth Scorchers in the 2018–19 Big Bash League season. Bancroft scored 138 not out on his Sheffield Shield return as well.