Cameron Bancroft, the Australia Test opener, will return to Durham for the 2021 season, the club has announced.

Bancroft captained Durham in both the County Championship and One Day Cup in 2019, prior to his call-up for that summer's Ashes squad, and was described by the club's director of cricket, Marcus North, as having a "positive influence" during his time with the club.

Bancroft scored 726 runs at 45.37 in nine Championship games that season, and a further 377 runs at 94.25 in List A cricket, performances that helped to smooth his way back into the Test set-up after serving a nine-month ban for his role in Australia's ball-tampering scandal in 2018.

After missing out on the 2020 season due to the Covid-19 outbreak, Bancroft will return to Chester-le-Street once he has completed his Sheffield Shield campaign with Western Australia.

"We are really pleased to welcome Cameron back to Emirates Riverside this summer," North said. "He had a positive influence on and off the field during his time with us in 2019.

He is currently having a fantastic summer down under for Western Australia and we look forward to him having a big impact for Durham when he re-joins the squad in May."