Klinger details message from Bancroft

Former state teammate Michael Klinger has provided an insight into the character of suspended Test opener Cameron Bancroft via text messages the pair exchanged during the ball-tampering crisis.

Bancroft, who has been banned for nine months by Cricket Australia and was subsequently dumped by county club Somerset, was charged based on being party to the plan to tamper with the ball, carrying out then vice-captain David Warner's instructions, following Steve Smith's direction to conceal the evidence, and his own lies to mislead match officials and the public.

"I want to say that I am very sorry,” Bancroft said on Thursday after touching down in Perth. "I love the game of cricket and playing for my nation and my state, there is no greater pride for me.

"I am extremely disappointed and regret my actions."

Klinger, 37, retired from first-class cricket last month having long been a mainstay in the Warriors' top-order alongside his younger counterpart Bancroft.

"I sent Cameron Bancroft a WhatsApp message in the period between his initial press conference with Steve Smith at Newlands and the sanctions being announced," Klinger wrote on Players Voice. "It was something along the lines of, 'Thinking of you, mate'.

"I'm sure he'd received hundreds of similar ones. The guy's world was being turned upside down and there are plenty of people like me who care for him.

"His response summed up what Bangers, the person, is all about.

"He thanked me, then turned the discussion to my family. He said my wife, Cindy, is going through something of far greater significance than what he was experiencing in South Africa. That, he added, was true perspective.

"Cindy was diagnosed with breast cancer a few months ago.

"Personally, I think that's a pretty remarkable way for a 25-year-old bloke to respond in the middle of the biggest crisis of his life, one that was being documented all over the world."

Klinger said the purpose of making the text exchange public was to provide "some balance and context to some of the portrayals of Cam that have been aired over the last week".

Bancroft, along with Smith and Warner, have been the centre of a media storm since the news broke on March 24, with all three making emotional press conferences in their home cities after receiving their sanctions.

Klinger, along with WA coach Justin Langer, played a mentoring role to the 25-year-old through their time together at the Warriors.

"He's not a criminal," he continued. "He's not a bad bloke. He's a kid who made a mistake, the consequences of which he will live with for the rest of his life.

"He has endured public scorn, experienced humiliation and dealt with sanctions that will hurt him financially, professionally and reputationally.

"That's a lot for any human being to go through.

"It's time to support him."

Qantas tour of South Africa

South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Quinton de Kock, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Duanne Olivier, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, AB de Villiers.

Australia squad: Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tim Paine, Matt Renshaw, Jhye Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.

Warm-up match: Australia beat South Africa A by five wickets. Report, highlights

First Test Australia won by 118 runs. Scorecard

Second Test South Africa won by six wickets. Scorecard

Third Test South Africa won by 322 runs. Scorecard

Fourth Test Wanderers, Johannesburg, March 30-April 3. Live coverage