CAMERON Bancroft, Somerset's overseas player for the 2018 season, has been hit with a nine-month ban from Cricket Australia for his role in the ball tampering scandal.

The punishment includes all international and Australian state cricket but, crucially, not English domestic cricket - this means Somerset still have a decision to make on whether to honour his contract.

Somerset director of cricket Andy Hurry said on Monday that the club would wait until Cricket Australia had taken action before doing likewise, with senior club officials in Taunton currently undergoing their own investigation.

Steve Smith and David Warner have been punished with 12-month bans, while all three players must undertake 100 hours of community work with local cricket clubs in Australia.

The full statement from Cricket Australia is here.