IN response to George Alberts' letter (HAS, Mar 27), as a current member of Durham County Cricket Club, I would like to defend the decision to appoint Cameron Bancroft as captain of the club.

Undoubtedly Bancroft made a serious error of judgement when he became involved in the Australian ball-tampering scandal last March.

The stigma attached to it will no doubt remain with him for many years, but the fact is that he has fully served the punishment imposed by the relevant authorities and should therefore be free to return to the game without further sanction.

There was no restriction on captaincy in the sentence that was imposed on him, as there was with the other two miscreants.

Durham have already explained the wholly rational decision to make the appointment.

Jim Clarke, South Shields