Somerset sign Cameron Bancroft for four-match County Championship stint

The Australian batter, who has played 10 Test matches for his country, scored a competition-leading 945 runs at 59.06 for Western Australia in the 2022/23 Sheffield Shield

Cameron Bancroft has become the latest Australian player to land a county contract for the 2023 season after agreeing to join Somerset for a short red-ball stint.

The top-order batter will be available for their opening four matches of the County Championship, beginning against Warwickshire at home on April 6. 

Bancroft hasn't featured for Australia's Test side since August 2019 but is eyeing a recall to the international stage after an impressive Sheffield Shield campaign.

The 30-year-old scored a competition-leading 945 runs at 59.06, including four centuries and one half-century, to steer Western Australia to the title – Daniel Drew (656 runs) was nearly 300 runs behind him in second place in the standings.

^{Bancroft hasn't played Test cricket for Australia since August 2019 [Ryan Pierse/Getty Images]}

^{Bancroft starred for Western Australia in the 2022/23 Sheffield Shield [Paul Kane/Getty Images]}

Bancroft had been due to represent Somerset in 2018 before his involvement in Australia's ball tampering scandal against South Africa put paid to his contract.

He has previously represented Gloucestershire and Durham on the county circuit, scoring 877 runs at 33.73 in 16 first-class outings for the former and a further 909 runs at 39.52 in 14 matches for the latter.

Commenting on joining Somerset, Bancroft said: "I have thoroughly enjoyed the time that I've spent playing in England, and I'm excited to be heading back there with Somerset. They are an outstanding club who are looking to challenge in all formats again this year.

"I hope that I can help contribute to Somerset making a good start to the season in their pursuit of their County Championship goal. It would mean a huge amount to me to play a part in the 2023 team making history."

Director of cricket, Andy Hurry, added: "We are pleased to have secured a player of Cameron's quality for the opening matches of the campaign. With Matt Henry joining us later in the season we were keen to secure the services of a proven player for the opening four fixtures.

"With a couple of our batters currently recovering from injury, we saw this as an opportunity to solidify our batting line up at a time of the year when runs will be at a premium.

"During his recent spells within county cricket he has proved himself to be extremely proficient in English conditions and we are looking forward to adding his quality to our dressing room for those initial Championship matches."