County Cricket could provide Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft much-needed game time while they serve out their ball-tampering bans. 

The trio received bans restricting them from playing internationally and domestically, as well as in the IPL. 

As a result, none of the players would have played any first-class cricket until the start of the 2019 World Cup. 

They can, however, play Premier cricket in Australia and must complete a minimum of 100 hours of community service for club cricket. Their bans though do not prevent them from playing in England, subject to approval from the England and Wales Cricket Board. 

Surrey coach Michael Di Venuto, who was Australia’s batting coach until 2016, has confirmed he would be keen to sign one of the three players. 

‘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. 

With Mitchell Marsh recovering from an ankle injury, there is one more spot available for an international player. 

‘We have got a relationship with Mitch to see how he goes with his ankle but we have got a spot we have got to fill as well.

‘So, 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 potentially playing.’