Somerset spinner Omari Banks is keen to put his ball-tampering controversy behind him and help his county challenge for titles in the final throes of the season.

The former West Indies Test player was banned for 10 days in July after being found guilty of altering the condition of the ball in a Second XI Championship game.

Rather than be shunned by his county, Banks has featured regularly in the side in all forms of cricket since his suspension. And the man from Anguilla, who holds a UK passport, has arguably been playing his best cricket for Somerset of late.

Banks has not spoken publicly since his ban but broke his silence after the third day of the Championship game with Durham was rained off without a ball bowled.

He said: "I am just moving forward. That happened before and this is the future now. Somerset have been doing well and that is what is important – I have just been happy to be contributing to our team's success so far."

Banks started the season in the first team, but after being dropped he played several games for Budleigh Salterton in the Devon Premier League, along with former Gloucestershire batsman Bobby Dawson.

"I played some club cricket," said Banks. "Playing any cricket with the right attitude will assist your overall game – I felt it would be good for me as I wasn't in the first team."

Banks scored a fifty in the draw with Sussex and followed up with four wickets and 45 not out at Hampshire last week.

"Hampshire was a good pitch for spinners," he said. "It had a bit of turn and a bit of bounce in it, so it was good for me to get four wickets and to contribute with the bat, but it was more important that we held out with the draw in the match.

"It has just been nice to have the chance to play and have the chance to make some runs and take some wickets."

While Somerset have only a mathematical chance of winning the Championship, they will claim the Pro40 League title if they win their final four games, and then there is the Twenty20 Champions League in India next month.

"We have been playing well in all cricket," said Banks. "We have been looking forward to all games and we are glad to be in a position where we can challenge all the other teams in all divisions for the titles.

"The Champions League is something every player in the county circuit would like to play in, and the fact that we are taking part in that competition is something all the guys are glad to do."

Whether Banks' improved form is enough to earn him a new contract when his current deal expires at the end of the year remains to be seen. He declined to discuss the matter yesterday.

Somerset CCC will hope to get back on the field for the final day of the Durham game today or they could face a points deduction for a slow over-rate in Durham's innings. Unless the visitors improve their over-rate, they could be docked one or two points by the umpires.

Having made 174 first time around, they are 41-0 in their second innings, still 57 behind.