OZ TOUR OFF FOR DRUG BAN BURNHAM

JACK BURNHAM has had his ECB winter sponsorship withdrawn following his 12-month ban for taking cocaine. The 20-year-old Durham batsman (below) 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 to be stationed in Perth alongside Middlesex’s Max Holden, his former England Under 19 colleague. 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. Somerset’s George Bartlett will now be accompanying Holden to Perth instead. Burnham met Durham chief executive David Harker at the Emirates Riverside yesterday to discuss the way forward, which will include a mandatory rehabilitation course. Some of Burnham’s team-mates are annoyed he failed to learn after being banned for 21 days last May — he was injured and could not have played any way — but Durham are standing by him.

MARK WOOD has lost his England central contract following another year of injury problems and will be paid as a one-day specialist for the next 12 months. The Durham paceman, 27, is still reeling from missing out on Ashes selection last week, but his downgrading to a white-ball-specific deal was expected after a summer in which he appeared to be shaking off the effects of three ankle surgeries, only to then suffer regular heel problems.