Australia "proud" of Cameron Bancroft's "absolutely extraordinary development", says Justin Langer

Bancroft, who was handed a nine-month ban following the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town, scored an unbeaten 93 in last week's warm up ahead of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston on Thursday

Australia head coach Justin Langer maintains his side are "proud" of batsman Cameron Bancroft after the "absolutely extraordinary development" he has undergone over the last year.

The 26-year-old batsman was, alongside Steve Smith and David Warner, disgraced after their involvement in the sandpaper scandal in Cape Town last year, and Bancroft was handed a consequent nine-month suspension for his actions.

However, having served his time he has looked in good touch for both Victoria in Australia and Durham in the County Championship and strengthened his claim for a starting berth with an unbeaten 93 in last week's inter-squad warm-up ahead of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston on Thursday.

"He's very close, he's one of two openers who we could pick," Langer said.

"It would be a great story if he comes back in from where he has come from and his learnings over the last 14 months. He played really well last week and he brings energy to the team.

"His development over the last 12 months after what happened in Cape Town has been absolutely extraordinary and we are that proud of him."

^{Bancroft has impressed in domestic cricket ahead of the first Ashes Test}

Langer also believes that Bancroft, Smith and Warner, who the head coach confirmed is fine after suffering a knee scare during net practice on Monday, will face a hostile atmosphere when they take to the field in Birmingham on Thursday.

England beat Australia at the same venue at the World Cup semi-final stage earlier this month and have not lost an Ashes Test there since 2001, but while Langer acknowledges the reception they receive will not be the most friendly he has denied that the trio's involvement has anything to do with redemption.

"I know what the reception is going to be, I think we all do. But it is what it is. There's nothing we can do about that and it is 100 percent out of our control.

"Every Ashes series is the same - it's really tough. That's just the environment we're in. You go to Cape Town, you go to Johannesburg, it's like being in the Gladiator movie.''

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''There's a lot of attention on David and Steve. 

"I don't think it's got anything to do with redemption. They're just happy to be playing.

"We want to beat England and England want to beat us. We all know that. That's why the Ashes is so great, isn't it?"

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