Usman Khawaja’s sandpaper claims put Pat Cummins and Australia under fresh scrutiny

Usman Khawaja has reignited debate about Australia’s 2018 ball-tampering scandal, making claims that could overshadow the team’s build-up to its upcoming Test series against New Zealand. In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald promoting his new book, the former Australian opener said “all of us” knew there were plans to use sandpaper to help the ball swing during the series against South Africa. Khawaja’s account appears to conflict with a 2021 statement from Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon. The four bowlers said at the time they did not know a foreign substance had been taken onto the field until they saw images on the stadium screen at Newlands. All remain members of Australia’s Test side, with Cummins now the captain. Steve Smith, who led Australia during the 2018 series, is also back in the spotlight. He and David Warner were suspended after the scandal, while Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera with sandpaper. Khawaja also claimed the substance had been used in the preceding Test, although Smith had described the Cape Town incident as a one-off. Former Australia captain Mark Taylor told the Sydney Morning Herald that the claims would make the lead-up to the summer a “nightmare” for Cummins and the team. The article suggests that media appearances by the current players are likely to face questions about Khawaja’s version of events. The controversy comes as Australia prepares to face New Zealand in a four-Test series beginning in Perth on December 9. The article notes that Steve Smith is expected to attract attention on his return from New York, following reports of tension after he withdrew from a recent Test in South Africa with a neck injury. For the Black Caps, any signs of disruption in the Australian camp may be welcome, though New Zealand will still face the challenge of trying to win a Test series across the Tasman for the first time since 2011.