Cricket Australia has responded after Usman Khawaja made a bombshell claim that sandpaper was also used in the second Test of the infamous 2018 South Africa series.
The former Australian batter also made the stunning revelation that every touring party member knew about the plan.
Khawaja made the eye-opening claims in his autobiography Sabr, which is set for release on Tuesday.
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During the third Test in Cape Town against the Proteas eight years ago, Cameron Bancroft was captured on camera using yellow sandpaper to scuff the ball and gain reverse swing.
The scandal sent shockwaves through Australian cricket, with then-captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner subsequently handed 12-month bans, while Bancroft received a nine-month suspension.
But Khawaja claims that the use of sandpaper was first discussed and used by the Australians during the previous Test in Port Elizabeth.
Via Nine newspapers, Khawaja recalls that “open, lighthearted discussions” were had in the St George’s Park dressing room “about how to find ways to rough up the ball, culminating in the discovery of sandpaper as an effective agent”.
Lehmann denies part in sandpaper plot | 02:02
Cricket Australia’s subsequent investigation identified only three players – Bancroft, Warner and Smith – as being involved in the scandal, with Smith found to have known of the plan, but failed to prevent it.
But Khawaja has revealed a different version of events.
“It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us,” Khawaja told The Sydney Morning Herald.
He added: “In an ideal world, I don’t want to do this … I don’t want to be the one who comes out and talks about the truth. The issue is that I genuinely thought after eight years the truth would have been out by now.
“Maybe I thought Davey would have exposed it, or someone else would have talked about it more. I just didn’t think it was going to come down to this. But the longer it’s gone on for, and right from the very start, I’ve been on the train of collectively taking it.”
CA issued an official statement in response to the explosive revelations.
“There has been a great deal of speculation in the eight years since the 2018 Cape Town Test, including extensive media coverage throughout last month’s series in South Africa,” the statement said, via Nine.
“During this time there has been the ongoing opportunity to present any relevant information, and this remains the case.
“All relevant information presented to CA to date has been properly considered, and we remain comfortable with the findings of our integrity process.”
Former English cricketer Michael Vaughan was one to react on social media on Saturday.
Khawaja’s understanding contradicts a joint statement issued by Australia’s bowling quartet of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon in 2021, in which they denied knowing a foreign substance had been taken onto the field to alter the ball’s condition.
“We pride ourselves on our honesty … We did not know a foreign substance was taken onto the field to alter the condition of the ball until we saw the images on the big screen at Newlands,” the statement read.
Khawaja had previously alerted Cummins and Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg to the contents of his autobiography, with the Australian captain publicly declaring last month that the playing group had moved on from the scandal.
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