England withdraw Jack Burnham’s winter sponsorship

Jack Burnham has had his ECB winter sponsorship withdrawn following his 12-month ban for taking cocaine.

The 20-year-old Durham batsman was identified as one of eight young English cricketers to be sent to grade clubs in Australia this winter as the next step on the international pathway.

He was due to be stationed in Perth alongside Middlesex’s Max Holden, his former England Under-19 colleague.

The Durham batsman was handed a one-year ban by England cricket on Wednesday

However, although the ECB-imposed suspension for a third failed drugs test does not extend worldwide, the governing body ‘wanted to make it clear that there are consequences’ for his lifestyle choices and de-selected him.

Somerset’s George Bartlett will now be accompanying Holden to participate in the Western Australia Premier Cricket competition instead.

Part of Burnham’s first day of his year-long suspension yesterday (Thursday) was spent in a meeting with Durham chief executive David Harker at the Emirates Riverside discussing his plans for the future, which include a mandatory rehabilitation course.

A visit to a medical practitioner will follow next Tuesday and if the advice from experts is that venturing to play overseas remained in his best interests it is an avenue which could yet be explored.

It is Burnham’s third offence and was due to travel to Australia with Max Holden to grade clubs

It would require funding – perhaps in the form of an advance from Durham, who have stood by a player less than a month into a two-year contract. And a visa – but Sportsmail understands he has already secured one in anticipation of being sent among the England eight.

Although some of his colleagues are annoyed that he failed to learn the lesson of being banned for 21 days this May – he had a hand injury that would have prevented him playing regardless – employers Durham have been more sympathetic to a young man they believe has been influenced by the wrong crowd.

But the 20-year-old will now be side-lined indefinitely after his ban handed by the ECB

Following that second transgression, the club were concerned enough by the company he kept in Esh Winning, one of the county’s old pit villages, to re-locate him to a house with Gareth Harte, a South African with a British passport who went on to become Durham’s Second XI player of the year.

There is an argument that a jaunt down under would be even more beneficial as it would get him away from the north-east for a couple of months.

However, the next course of action will depend on Tuesday’s meeting – when a schedule including further testing and an education programme will be discussed amongst other things – plus further input from Durham, the ECB and the Professional Cricketers’ Association.