Australia’s 2018 ball-tampering scandal is again within the highlight because the Take a look at facet returns to South Africa for the primary time for the reason that “Sandpapergate”, however captain Pat Cummins on Thursday dismissed strategies that Usman Khawaja’s autobiography may set off additional fallout when it’s revealed subsequent month.
Australia’s 33-year-old Take a look at skipper was one of many bowlers who performed within the March 2018 Take a look at at Cape City the place Australia was caught utilizing sandpaper to scuff up one facet of the ball in an unlawful effort to supply prodigious swing.
It sparked a significant disaster for Cricket Australia, however solely captain Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, who was caught with the sandpaper in his pocket, have been banned for his or her half within the scandal.
The bowling quartet of Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon denied any data of the incident.
All 4 are again in South Africa for the three-Take a look at sequence, the primary in South Africa for the reason that scandal, which begins at Kingsmead on Friday.
Cummins confirmed he has spoken with Khawaja, who was additionally within the Australian crew at Newlands eight years in the past.
“Didn’t return into an excessive amount of element. He simply mainly gave me the heads-up that he’s doing a ebook, and yeah, as at all times, no worries. Inform your story. It’s high-quality,” Cummins mentioned.
Australian media have reported that Khawaja had urged the crew to take collective duty on the time of the scandal however the suggestion had been shot down.
Cummins mentioned he didn’t know in regards to the contents of the ebook.
“You might want to ask him,” he mentioned. “It’s clearly a very long time in the past. All of the investigations, every part was executed again then. Answered each query a million occasions. So, yeah, it was handled then. Now all I can say is, as a bunch, we moved on, very proud of the final eight years, how we’ve been as a bunch and developed.”
South African broadcaster SuperSport, whose cameras caught the offending Australians, has poked some enjoyable on the 2018 scandal with a clip on social media that reveals Bancroft utilizing the sandpaper on the ball and the Australia’s response after being caught red-handed eight years in the past.
Within the social media put up, the broadcaster warned: “Our cameras can be sharp for this 3-match take a look at sequence.”
Revealed on Oct 09, 2026