Former Australia batsman and Surrey head coach Michael Di Venuto is open to the possibility of David Warner and Steven Smith playing for the county during their ball-tampering bans if the England board allow the duo to play English domestic cricket.

Former Australia batting coach Di Venuto said it would be “mad” to not consider the prolific batsmen for county cricket. The one-year bans handed down by Cricket Australia only cover Australia’s international matches and domestic games.

However, any stint in the county circuit will need clearance from the England board. “From an Australian perspective, it is probably important that they play a bit of cricket at some stage,” Di Venuto said.

“I don’t know if they are allowed to play in this competition. I know what it states in their sanctions that they can’t play domestic cricket in Australia. If they are in the right mental state to play cricket and the ECB will have to allow it to start with, then we’d be mad not to look at some of the world’s best players

The third player involved in the saga – Cameron Bancroft who was handed a nine-month ban – saw his deal with Somerset cancelled. Surrey were supposed to have Mitchell Marsh on board but his ankle injury after the South Africa tour ended those plans. South  Africa opening batsman Dean Elgar has been signed in his place.