David Warner has thrown his full support behind former Australia opener Usman Khawaja, who claimed that the side’s entire dressing room knew about the ball-tampering scheme in Cape Town in 2018.
Khawaja has claimed in recent days that players and coaching staff were aware of the ball-tampering that occurred in South Africa eight years ago, stating: “It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us.”
Warner also claimed the investigation held by Cricket Australia in the aftermath of the ball-tampering controversy was “rushed and botched”.
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Usman Khawaja made extraordinary claims ahead of the release of his autobiography, that Australia’s dressing room knew about plans to tamper with the ball in South Africa in 2018
Warner and fellow batters Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft were banned over the plan to rough up the ball with sandpaper during the third Test at Newlands in Cape Town.
In an excerpt of his autobiography released on Saturday, Khawaja said “open, lighthearted discussions” about tampering were not confined to batters, bowlers or staff but extended throughout the team.
On Sunday, he added that he had chosen to speak about the ‘Sandpapergate’ scandal now after promising childhood friend Warner that he would share his side of the story.
Until now, nobody else involved in the tour has ever admitted culpability.
The bowling unit of Pat Cummins – now Australia captain – Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon even released a statement in 2021 denying they knew anything about the tactic.
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Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft all received suspensions following the sandpaper scandal
Warner said in a video statement on Instagram: “People wanted to know it, you’ve come out and said it, and now people are saying, ‘Why eight years on?’ and talking about selling a book.
“This is Usman’s story. This is what Usman believes. Uzzi wrote down every single thing from that day on. Uzzi, thank you.
“Now, this whole interview process was rushed and botched. Uzzi was sitting next to Cameron Bancroft. Uzzi was not interviewed. How is that a thorough investigation? It baffles me.
“We’re not here to point fingers and we’re not opening old wounds. It’s about accountability, transparency and ensuring that the truth is properly examined.”
Warner, who retired from cricket’s traditional format in 2024 with 112 Test caps, said he decided to comment now after talking to his young daughters over recent days about what transpired in that match and later.
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Martin Samuel explains the impact Khawaja’s claims that the entire Australia team were aware of the ball-tampering scheme in South Africa in 2018 could have on next summer’s Ashes
“Perhaps it’s time people stop scrutinising the person asking for accountability and start asking those responsible for the investigation to provide it,” he continued.
“Now, there have been a lot of statements and inaccuracies over the last eight years that were out in the media by people and there were a lot of people who stayed silent.
“The last couple of days I’ve been talking to my daughters and that’s why it’s taken me a couple of days to get this out, because I’ve had to tell them exactly what happened.
“Especially my 12-year-old Ivy, who wanted to know why we were holding her, why there were so many cameras and why we were crying on TV. That was a hard thing to do.
“But one thing I did say was, ‘Girls, tell the truth, because lies will eventually come out’. It’s a very tough time.
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Ffootage emerged of Australia opener Bancroft using a foreign object to alter the condition of the ball against South Africa in 2018
“This is for everyone in Australia. It’s been the question that everyone’s been asking. Uzzi, you said it how it is. It’s 100 per cent accurate.
“It’s been a tough time for my family, Steven and Cameron, no doubt, but this is what needed to come out. I fully support that, Uzzi.”
Maddinson: Christmas comes along and people have books to sell
Australian opener Nic Maddinson said it was “disappointing” that Warner, Bancroft and Smith had to “relive” the situation.
“It’s obviously disappointing that it keeps coming up,” Maddinson told 10 Sport.
“But it’s that time of year, isn’t it? Christmas comes along and people have books to sell.
“Things come out. It’s just disappointing.
“I think the three guys who were affected the most, it doesn’t really help them at all to relive it. Especially over the past month having (had a) great series in South Africa.
“Obviously, the crowds weren’t as hostile maybe as people expected. But that stuff is still there every day at airports, with the general public making comments here and there.
“So, I guess over time (it) would still wear them down. It’s just popped up again. Start of the summer, going into a pretty big six months for the team, it is obviously probably pretty disappointing for those guys.”