SOMERSET director of cricket Andy Hurry has left the door open for banned batsman Cameron Bancroft to return to the club in future.

The club announced yesterday (Thursday) that they had cancelled the 25-year-old's contract for the upcoming season after an internal investigation, but Hurry admitted he has been impressed by how Bancroft has dealt with the fallout from the ball tampering scandal.

Speaking in a press conference at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Hurry said: "It’s been a difficult few days for a number of people, none more so than Cameron himself. He has been put through the mill but he’s impressed with how he’s dealth with it, the maturity he’s shown and the amount of remorse demonstrated. I feel for him.

“We’ve gone through a pragmatic process to gain as much information as we possibly could.

“We’ve considered every possibility and at the centre of that decision has to be in the best interests of Somerset County Cricket Club. I also want to make clear we’ve considered the impact that will have on Cameron Bancroft as well.

“He’s someone I have tremendous faith in as a human being and my opinion on him hasn’t changed. I’ve had the opportunity over the last few days to have numerous conversations with Cameron and he’s impressed me with how he’s managed himself at this difficult, challenging time.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that he regrets his actions, he’ll learn from his experience and come back stronger. He was very apologetic to everyone associated with the club but he’s taken a huge amount of responsibility for his actions.

“I had to have a difficult conversation with him but it was a decision he respected. Having got to know him a bit better now, I see someone who we have a robust relationship with and he can rely on me to support him as needed going forward.

“The door is never closed. The majority of us make mistakes in our lives and the important thing is learning from them. He’s a player with a very high ceiling.

“I’ve learned how honest he is. He’s a man of integrity. I’m confident our relationship will grow from this rather than diminish."

Focus now switches to Somerset's search for an overseas replacement, with less than a month until the club begin their County Championship campaign against Worcestershire in Taunton.

Bancroft's replacements in the Australian squad, Matt Renshaw and Joe Burns, have been linked with Somerset this week - with Renshaw admitting he would like a county deal - but Hurry has not put a deadline on making any decision.

“I’m not worried about it," he said.

"We’ve got a strong squad and I have a lot of faith in the players. I’ve seen a lot of progress over the winter and I’m frustrated we haven’t had much opportunity so far in pre-season to show that competitively. I feel confident we can bring someone in, hopefully for the start of the season.

“I’m excited by the quality and depth we’ve got in the changing room and that needs reinforcing – it’s one of the reasons I came back.

“It’s about making sure we make the right decision for the club and finding the right fit. If that takes two days or two months then so be it."

To watch the full press conference, click here.