Durham have been left fuming after learning Australia opener Cameron Bancroft will miss the start of the Championship season because he has to attend an end-of-season dinner in Perth.

Durham signed Bancroft in July last year, taking a chance on the player when he had been ostracised by cricket following his role in the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal.

The show of faith from Durham gave Bancroft a chance to rebuild his career and doing well in county cricket in England would be a massive boost for his chances of playing in the Ashes.

But he has been told by Cricket Australia and his state side Western Australia that he has to attend their end-of-season awards dinner in Perth instead of flying to England to play Championship cricket.

He has promised Durham he will leave WA’s awards dinner early to try and get to this country as soon as possible but the county have resigned themselves to him not being available for the Championship season opener against Derbyshire on April 5.