Ashes 2019: Cameron Bancroft 'extremely proud' to be back in Australia squad after ball-tampering scandal

Opener was banned for nine months for his role in the incident in South Africa in March 2018

Tim Paine. Australia's captain. Looking to be first skipper since Steve Waugh to oversee an overseas Ashes series win over England. Will also serve as wicket-keeper. Getty

David Warner. Back in the Test squad following his ban for his part in the infamous ball-tampering scandal. Big things will be needed from him at top of the order. Can bat well in England, as his Cricket World Cup efforts demonstrated, but in his past eight Tests on English soil has never reached three figures. Getty

Cameron Bancroft. The opener is back in Australia's squad for the first time since ball-tampering scandal. Stint at Durham paid off with two centuries and two fifties to demonstrate he is in good nick. PA Photo

Usman Khawaja. Met his Test debut for Australia back in 2011 against England. Now an established part of the side and will likely bat at No 3. Getty

Steve Smith captained Australia to the 2017-18 Ashes series win. Was banned for 12 months for his role in the ball-tampering scandal and lost the captaincy. If he plays in first Test at Edgbaston will be his first Test appearance since the drama in South Africa. PA Photo

Mitchell Marsh. The all-rounder gets a recall after a poor end to 2018 that saw him dropped after the Boxing Day Test against India in 2018. His two hundreds against England in the 2017-18 Ashes is likely the thinking behind his call-up.

All-rounder Mitchell Marsh will be expected to contribute with bat and ball to Australia''s cause. Getty

Travis Head. Made his maiden hundred against Sri Lanka in Canberra in February and has made a solid start to life in Test cricket since making his debut against Pakistan in Dubai in October. PA Photo

Marnus Labuschagne. Another all-rounder option and capable of big hitting. Might not start the series but may well come into contention later on. Getty

Marcus Harris. Six Test matches to his name. Likely to be back-up to the David Warner and Cameron Bancroft partnership. Getty

Josh Hazlewood. Has 164 Test wickets to his name and will expect to add a considerable amount to that tally in conditions that should suit him. PA

Mitchell Starc. A lot rests on Starc's shoulders. When he is at his best, and has his inswinging yorkers firing, he can be unplayable. Bowled well at the Cricket World Cup and now needs to transform that from white ball to red ball cricket. Getty

Nathan Lyon. Australia's premier spin bowler will have a big role to play in his third tour of England. Getty

James Pattinson. Injury has disrupted so much of the 29 year old's career. Took seven wickets in his two appearances in England in 2013 and if he stays fit he will trouble the home side's batsmen. Getty

Peter Siddle. On the 2009, 2013 and 2015 tours of England that all ended in defeat. The bowler will hope it is fourth time lucky. Getty

Matthew Wade. Wicket-keeper but could make the side as a batsman with captain Tim Paine almost certainly holding the gloves. Getty

Michael Neser. The surprise pick in Australia's squad. Only two ODIs to his name in his international career. Took four wickets in the Hadden XI v Hick XI match and Australia clearly looking at his medium pace being effective in English conditions. Getty

Australian batsman Cameron Bancroft admits there were times during his suspension when he doubted whether he would play international cricket again and he is determined to make the most of his second chance.

The opener's selection in the Ashes squad with David Warner and Steve Smith on Friday brings all three players banned for their parts in the Newlands ball-tampering incident back into the fold for the first time since the scandal in April 2018.

Bancroft was the last of the trio to get a recall after serving the shortest ban of nine months but that still gave him plenty of time to ponder his future.

Cameron Bancroft is set to play his first Test cricket for Australia since March 2018. Getty

"There were definitely times when I was challenged, a lot, but you go through those moments and you learn a lot about what you need to do to keep moving forward," the 26-year-old said after being named in the squad on Friday.

"If you'd asked me 18 months ago if I'd be sitting here now, it would have been the last thing on my mind but it is what it is now.

"It probably hasn't completely sunk in yet. I'm sure sitting by myself tonight I'll digest it all, but of course I'm extremely proud and excited to be selected in this squad again."

Bancroft was given the lightest punishment by Cricket Australia because he was adjudged to have been led astray by his then captain and vice captain.

The Western Australian, who was playing his eighth test when he took the piece of sandpaper onto the field at Newlands, said he was determined to trust his own values in the future.

"One of the big lessons that I learnt last year was about being true to yourself. There is no doubt that I wasn't as true to myself as I could have been at times," he added.

"You learn from those mistakes that you make and you try and be better moving forward. At the end of the day, what you do and your actions is completely up to you. I made a mistake and I’ll learn from it and move forward and get better."

The rapid recall of the Newlands trio has not gone down well in the British media and Bancroft accepts that he is likely to be booed by the Edgbaston crowd if he gets selected for the first test, which starts on Thursday.

"It doesn’t bother me too much," he said. "It is what it is. People will react how they want to react. Hopefully I can use it if people want to be like that, to give you energy to perform well."