Australia’s infamous 2018 “Sandpapergate” scandal is back in focus as the team prepares for its first Test series in South Africa since the ball-tampering controversy, with captain Pat Cummins playing down suggestions that Usman Khawaja’s upcoming autobiography could reopen old wounds.
Cummins said Khawaja had informed him about the book during a phone call a few weeks ago but did not go into detail about its contents. “Uz gave me a buzz a few weeks back that he is releasing a book,” Cummins said. “He didn't go into too much detail, just basically gave me the heads-up that he is doing a book and, as always, no worries. Tell your story. It's fine.”
Khawaja’s autobiography, Sabr, is scheduled for release on November 10, shortly after the conclusion of Australia’s three-Test series in South Africa, which begins on October 9. Whether the book revisits the ball-tampering scandal that rocked Australian cricket remains to be seen.
Asked to elaborate on his conversation with Khawaja and what he knew about the book, Cummins said: “I'm not too sure. You'll need to ask him.”
“It's obviously a long time ago and all the investigations, everything was done back then and we answered every question a million times,” he added.
“It was dealt with then and all I can say is that as a group, we have moved on and we are very happy with the last eight to nine years how we have been as a group and evolved and obviously my focus is on captaining the cricket team.”
Revisiting the 2018 ball-tampering scandal
The controversy erupted during Australia’s Test against South Africa in Cape Town in March 2018, when Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera using sandpaper on the ball in an attempt to alter its condition and aid reverse swing. Then captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and Bancroft were handed suspensions over their roles in the incident. Cummins and Khawaja were also part of the Australia squad during the infamous Test.
Cummins’ fellow fast bowler Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and spinner Nathan Lyon were also part of the series. The four bowlers denied knowing about the ball-tampering incident. In 2021, the quartet issued a statement calling for an end to “rumour-mongering and innuendo” after Bancroft suggested it was “self-explanatory” that the bowlers knew more about the incident than they had let on.
Australia have toured South Africa twice for limited-overs internationals since the scandal, but the upcoming series will mark their first Test visit to the country since 2018.
South African broadcaster SuperSport also brought the 2018 incident back into the spotlight on Wednesday, sharing footage of Bancroft tampering with the ball with the caption, “Our cameras will be sharp for this 3-match Test series."
