AUSTRALIA batsman Cameron Bancroft, who was suspended in a ball-tampering row earlier this year, will play for Durham in 2019.

The 25-year-old, along with Australia captain Steve Smith and fellow batsman David Warner, were sanctioned by Cricket Australia after their involvement in a ploy to affect the ball in the third Test against South Africa in March.

Bancroft was banned for nine months while Smith and Warner are serving 12-month suspensions.

Durham announced on Friday morning that Bancroft would be available to play in all formats as their overseas player for next season.

The county's head coach Jon Lewis said: "Cameron provides us with a very talented overseas signing who can bulk up our batting line up and help us compete for silverware.

"Tom Latham has done a great job for us over the past two seasons but we anticipate Tom being unavailable due to the World Cup in 2019, therefore we were delighted to be able to bring Cameron in."

The press release announcing Bancroft's signing made no mention of the ball-tampering scandal.

The ball-tampering incident occurred on March 24, the third day of the third Test against the Proteas in Cape Town.

Bancroft was captured on camera applying a material to the rough side of the ball before placing it down the front of his trousers.

Bancroft initially said he used sticky tape, but Cricket Australia later confirmed it was a strip of sandpaper.

However, he was seen as the junior partner in the scandal, with Smith and Warner receiving longer bans for their part in it.

On March 25 Smith stood down as Australia captain after admitting his team deliberately tampered with the ball.

Bancroft, speaking about his decision to join Durham, said: "I am excited to join Durham for the 2019 county season. Having played at Emirates Riverside in 2017 I know what a great place it is to play cricket.

"With the Ashes and ODI World Cup both being played in the UK in 2019 it will be a huge summer of cricket. I am grateful for the opportunity and I can't wait to get over and make an impact with Durham."

Durham chief executive Tim Bostock defended the club's move for Bancroft and insisted they have done their due diligence on the player.

Asked how difficult the decision to sign him had been, Bostock told Press Association Sport: "It's purely a cricket decision. Everybody makes mistakes and he was punished for it, and obviously he has served that suspension.

"It was a cricket decision, but it's important that we look at the character of individuals as well and we're very happy that Cameron will add an awful lot to our dressing room in the right sort of way."

He added: "The time he's had off has been very sobering for him. He certainly realises he's made a huge mistake.

"He's been punished for that, quite rightly. From January 1, he will be available to play cricket wherever he wants to play cricket - and in fact, he could have played cricket in England this year. He was only banned in Australia.

"Cameron is looking forward to getting back out on the field - that's where his real passion is, playing cricket."