Keith Bancroft

{{Short description|West Indian cricketer}}

{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name =

| image = ClaudeBancroft.jpg

| caption = Keith Bancroft in 1906

| country = West Indies

| fullname = Claude Keith Bancroft

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1885|10|30|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Fontabelle, Saint Michael, Barbados

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1919|1|12|1885|10|30|df=yes}}

| death_place = Toronto, Ontario, Canada

| heightft =

| heightinch =

| heightm =

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling =

| role = Wicket-keeper

| family = Kenneth Bancroft (brother)

| club1 = Barbados

| year1 = 1904/05

| clubnumber1 =

| columns = 1

| column1 = First-class

| matches1 = 13

| runs1 = 283

| bat avg1 = 14.15

| 100s/50s1 = –/1

| top score1 = 53

| deliveries1 = –

| wickets1 = –

| bowl avg1 = –

| fivefor1 = –

| tenfor1 = –

| best bowling1 = –

| catches/stumpings1 = 12/7

| date = 25 September

| year = 2011

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/51317.html Cricinfo

}}

Claude Keith Bancroft (30 October 1885 in Fontabelle, St Michael, Barbados – 12 January 1919 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada) was a West Indian cricketer who toured with the second West Indian touring side to England in 1906 as their wicket-keeper.

In 1904–05 he played for Barbados against Lord Brackley's team and then for the combined West Indies team in Barbados.

He was chosen as the wicket-keeper for the 1906 tour to England. Before the tour he was described as "the wicket-leeper of the team, and will be of immense value to his side. Is at present studying at Cambridge, having won the last Barbados Scholarship"Cricket – A Weekly Record of the Game, 1906 page 178 and "he is in residence at Cambridge as the team arrives in England. A wicketkeeper who is said to be very alert with the gloves. He kept well against Lord Brackley's XI and is also a steady bat".The West Indian Tour of England 1906 by Gerry Wolstenholme, page 7 He played in 11 of the 13 first class matches during the tour, scoring 53 against Kent in 90 minutes. He had dislocated a finger in the match against Surrey.

In 1907 and 1908 he played in trial matches at Cambridge but never played in a first class match for the University, indeed he didn't play any first class cricket after the 1906 tour.

After his first-class career was over, he did play two matches for the Federated Malay States against the Straits Settlements in 1911.

His brother Kenneth also played for Barbados in 1904–05.