Test captain Pat Cummins will front the media on Friday in Sydney to address the 'long list' of allegations Usman Khawaja has made in his new book about the 2018 sandpapergate scandal, as David Warner questions former batting coach Graeme Hick's standing among players and the reviewer who led Cricket Australia's investigation says he is doubtful he was told the full story.
Cummins announced on social media on Thursday morning that he would speak to media at 9.30am on Friday in Sydney after taking time to try to better understand the extent of Khawaja's claims in the memoir Sabr. 'I've taken some time to try and better understand the long list and full extent of Uzzy's allegations so I can respond properly,' he wrote.
The development follows Khawaja's assertion that the entire 2018 touring party in South Africa knew of the plan to use sandpaper to alter the ball, and his allegation that sandpaper was also used in the second Test at Port Elizabeth.
Former batting coach Graeme Hick said he had no prior knowledge of Australia's plans to use sandpaper during the 2018 tour of South Africa and called Khawaja's broad claim 'absolutely false'. 'To me, what Khawaja is implying here is absolutely false,' Hick said. 'In regard to any discussions around the ball tampering in Port Elizabeth or Cape Town that took place, I will say in true honesty that I did not hear or know anything!!'
Warner responded on social media by questioning Hick's standing, claiming Hick was only appointed batting coach because Cricket Australia would not pay Michael Di Venuto what he deserved. 'As players, we valued Michael so highly that we even offered to contribute from our own salaries to retain him,' Warner wrote. 'That alone speaks volumes about how highly we regarded him and how determined we were to keep him involved. Adds to why Graeme has spoken!!' Hick declined to comment when contacted on Thursday.
Hick is the second member of the coaching staff to contest Khawaja's claim that the whole touring party knew of the plan to use sandpaper in Cape Town. Khawaja also claimed a coach encouraged Cameron Bancroft to use sandpaper during an interval of the Cape Town Test; Hick and former head coach Darren Lehmann have both denied they were involved.
Meanwhile, Simon Longstaff, the executive director of The Ethics Centre who led the 2018 investigation into Cricket Australia, told ABC TV on Thursday that he doubted he had been told the full story at the time. 'It was only whispers at the time. They were faint, there were few but enough for me to go back and check with one or two key individuals who were offered the opportunity to alter what they had said, and they chose not to do so,' Longstaff said. 'We still don't know what happened.'
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The integrity of Australian cricket and the 2018 sandpapergate investigation is being questioned anew, potentially affecting public trust in the sport.
- Current captain Pat Cummins' response will set the tone for how the national team handles the widening dispute.
- The conflicting accounts from players and coaches could lead to fresh inquiries or damage relationships within the dressing room.
Background
The sandpapergate scandal erupted in March 2018 during the third Test in Cape Town, when Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera using sandpaper to rough the ball. Steve Smith and David Warner were banned for their roles, while Bancroft received a nine-month ban. Cricket Australia's investigation at the time accepted that only the three players knew. Khawaja's memoir Sabr, released this month, alleges the entire touring party was aware and that sandpaper was used in the second Test at Port Elizabeth.
Key Perspectives
Pat Cummins: The Test captain will address the allegations on Friday, saying he wants to 'respond properly' after understanding their full extent.
David Warner: Backs Khawaja's account as '100 per cent accurate' and questions Hick's credibility, suggesting Hick was not part of the inner circle.
Graeme Hick: Denies any knowledge of the ball-tampering plan, calling Khawaja's claim 'absolutely false' and stating he first learned of it on the big screen in Cape Town.
Simon Longstaff: The 2018 investigator says he is doubtful he was told the full story and that 'radically different accounts' persist.
What to Watch
- Cummins' press conference on Friday morning in Sydney for any new admissions or clarifications.
- Whether other players from the 2018 tour break their silence to support or contradict Khawaja.
- Possible reaction from Cricket Australia, including any decision to reopen the investigation.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedCummins will face the media on Friday in Sydney about Khawaja’s allegations.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Australia’s Test captain Pat Cummins has confirmed he will front the media on Friday in Sydney to address a “long list” of Usman Khawaja’s allegations”
- SupportedThe sandpapergate fallout is deepening or continuing.Just In: “The fallout from Usman Khawaja's 2018 South African tour ball-tampering allegations shows no sign of abating”
- SupportedWarner attacked Hick by questioning his standing among the players.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Warner’s comment did not challenge Hick’s account, but questioned his standing among the players.”
- SupportedCummins said he had taken time to understand the full extent of Khawaja’s allegations so he could respond properly.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““I’ve taken some time to try and better understand the long list and full extent of Uzzy’s allegations so I can respond properly.””
- SupportedCummins announced he would speak to media at 9.30am on Friday in Sydney.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““Happy to speak with any and all media about the events of this week at 9.30am.””
- SupportedKhawaja asserted that the entire 2018 touring party knew of the plan to use sandpaper in Cape Town.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Khawaja’s claim in his memoir Sabr that the whole touring party was aware of the plan to use sandpaper in Cape Town.”
- SupportedKhawaja alleged sandpaper was also used in the second Test at Port Elizabeth.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “Khawaja also alleged sandpaper was used in the second Test at Port Elizabeth, now known as Gqeberha.”
- SupportedHick said Khawaja’s implication was “absolutely false”.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““To me, what Khawaja is implying here is absolutely false.””
- SupportedWarner said Hick was appointed because Cricket Australia would not pay Michael Di Venuto what he deserved.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““Graeme Hick was only appointed because Cricket Australia was unwilling to pay Michael Di Venuto what he deserved,” Warner wrote”
- SupportedHick said he did not hear or know about discussions around ball tampering in Port Elizabeth or Cape Town.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““In regard to any discussions around the ball tampering in Port Elizabeth or Cape Town that took place, I will say in true honesty that I did not hear or know anything!!””
- SupportedLongstaff said he doubted he had been told the full story at the time.Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: “the reviewer who led the investigation into Cricket Australia in 2018 following the scandal in South Africa says he is doubtful he was told the full story at the time”
- SupportedLongstaff said, “We still don’t know what happened.”Sydney Morning Herald - Latest News: ““We still don’t know what happened.””