Durham fuming after Australia tell Cameron Bancroft he must miss start of English season to attend awards dinner

Durham have been left fuming after learning Australia opener Cameron Bancroft will miss the start of the Championship season because he has to attend an end-of-season dinner in Perth.

Durham signed Bancroft in July last year, taking a chance on the player when he had been ostracised by cricket following his role in the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal.

The show of faith from Durham gave Bancroft a chance to rebuild his career and doing well in county cricket in England would be a massive boost for his chances of playing in the Ashes.

But he has been told by Cricket Australia and his state side Western Australia that he has to attend their end-of-season awards dinner in Perth instead of flying to England to play Championship cricket.

He has promised Durham he will leave WA’s awards dinner early to try and get to this country as soon as possible but the county have resigned themselves to him not being available for the Championship season opener against Derbyshire on April 5.

Counties are often frustrated to lose overseas players to international call-ups but accept that is part of the risk, however, missing a Championship match to attend an awards dinner is a new low.

“He was persona non grata when we signed him in July. We took a chance on him and Western Australia and Cricket Australia should recognise that fact. He recognises it and has pushed strongly to get here on time,” said Tim Bostock, the Durham chief executive. “We only play two Championship matches before breaking off for a block of 50-over games. Missing one match does not sound like a big deal but those two games are huge for us as we try and start the season well and look for promotion.

“I can understand players missing games for international duty but to miss a game because of an awards dinner is ridiculous.”

Australia are also planning an A-team tour to England this summer during the World Cup and Ashes series that will include both red ball and white-ball cricket, giving Durham another potential headache.

Dates for those games are June 20 to July 14.

Bancroft has played only three first-class matches since his ban ended and his stint in county cricket is an important step in his return to cricket. Justin Langer, the Australia head coach, has offered him strong support and scoring runs on green English county pitches would put him in a strong position for an Ashes return, possibly opening the batting again with David Warner.