Cameron Bancroft cleared to play grade cricket

Cameron Bancroft has been cleared to play club cricket as he serves his nine-month ban for ball-tampering.

With this, Bancroft will join Steve Smith and David Warner, who were handed 12-month bans, in being able to stay in touch with the game through grade cricket in the time they are out of the national side.

Bancroft will turn out for his club side Willetton in Western Australia’s (WA) Premier Cricket.

All three players were banned by Cricket Australia (CA) in March after they were found guilty of colluding to alter the condition of the ball during the Cape Town Test against South Africa. The ban meant they couldn’t play international and domestic cricket, but were encouraged by CA to play grade cricket.

Last week, New South Wales Cricket Association cleared the path for Smith and Warner to play for Sutherland and Randwick-Petersham respectively.

According to reports in the Australian media, in a meeting on Monday 14 May, 16 WA Premier Cricket clubs voted 14-2 in favour of changing the rules to grant Bancroft an exception to play. As per the earlier rules, any CA ban extended to the clubs.

Christina Matthews, the WACA chief executive, had expressed her hope earlier that Bancroft wouldn’t be “the odd one out” between the three players, if the other two were cleared to play grade cricket in Sydney.

"I'm pleased to announce the Western Australia District Cricket Council tonight approved Willetton's application for an exemption to the rule that prevented Cameron from playing Premier Cricket this season," said Matthews after Monday's meeting. "It was strongly debated across a number of areas, but ultimately approved. It's great news for Cameron and I'd like to congratulate the WADCC on their decision."

Bancroft has also retained his contract with WA for the season, and is expected to join the side in training until his ban runs out.

Justin Langer, the Australia coach, who was with WA before his new role, has already said he would welcome the return of the trio once they served their punishment.