Cricket Australia rules out reopening 2018 ball-tampering investigation

Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg has announced there is no compelling evidence to justify a new probe into the 2018 sandpaper scandal, despite allegations that the whole team was aware of the plot.

The decision to maintain the original findings follows claims made by Usman Khawaja in his new book, 'Sabr'. Khawaja alleged that every Australian player in the dressing room was aware of the scheme to use sandpaper during the 2018 Cape Town Test against South Africa. According to News, David Warner supported these claims, describing Khawaja's version of events as "100 per cent accurate."

Mitchell Starc has denied any prior knowledge of the plot, telling reporters that his recollection has not changed since a joint statement was issued by the bowlers in 2021. Starc maintained that the bowling unit only became aware of the tampering when they saw it on the stadium's big screen. He stated he will stick to what he said eight years ago and does not plan to read Khawaja's book.

Former captain Michael Clarke has called for the investigation to be restaged, arguing that fans cannot trust the official narrative until the truth is revealed. Speaking to 2DayFM, Clarke noted that current Test captain Pat Cummins should address the allegations, as Cummins might not have attained the captaincy if the original scandal had not led to Steve Smith's removal. BBC Sport noted that Clarke's comments followed Greenberg's dismissal of a new probe.

The original Cricket Australia investigation concluded that only David Warner, Steve Smith, and Cameron Bancroft were involved in the plan to alter the ball. While Khawaja's book further alleges that tampering also occurred in the preceding Test at Port Elizabeth, Starc told reporters that there are simply differing versions of events from different people.

Background

The 2018 incident in South Africa resulted in bans for Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft. In 2021, bowlers Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon released a statement asserting they did not know a foreign substance had been taken onto the field.