Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has urged officials to reopen the investigation into the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, stating that fans “can’t trust what’s real” regarding the event. His comments follow allegations from his former teammate Usman Khawaja, who claimed in his autobiography that the entire Australian team was aware of the use of sandpaper to alter the ball during the third Test against South Africa.
Calls for Transparency
The 2018 incident resulted in year-long bans for then-captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner, and batter Cameron Bancroft. While a Cricket Australia investigation concluded at the time that the team’s bowlers were unaware of the tampering, Clarke believes the process must be revisited to uncover the truth. Speaking to 2DayFM, Clarke argued that Australian supporters have not moved on from the controversy.
“They can’t trust what’s real. They don’t know the truth until this gets reopened and the truth comes out,” Clarke said. He noted that previous opportunities to clarify the events in 2018 and 2021—when Bancroft made comments implying the bowlers were aware—failed to produce a definitive account. Clarke also called for current Test captain Pat Cummins to address the allegations, noting that the leadership changes that followed the scandal directly paved the way for Cummins’ current role.
Cricket Australia’s Stance
Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg stated that he sees “any compelling reason” to reopen the investigation. Speaking to the Sports Entertainment Network, Greenberg noted that he has not yet read Khawaja’s book but respects the former batter’s right to share his perspective. He emphasized that players were encouraged to come forward during the original investigation and that the organization remains satisfied with its previous findings.
“You end up at the same intersection where one person’s version of events contradict the others, and I’m not sure what outcome people are searching for,” Greenberg said. He added that while people may desire a single, unified version of the truth, it is unlikely to be achieved given the conflicting accounts from those involved.
Players Respond to Allegations
Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc, who was part of the bowling attack during the Cape Town Test, expressed disappointment regarding the renewed focus on the incident. Speaking at a Sydney event, Starc maintained that his recollection remains unchanged from the joint statement issued by the bowlers in 2021, which denied knowledge of a foreign substance being taken onto the field.
“We weren’t aware it was taken on the field to be tampered with. We saw it on the big screen in Cape Town,” Starc said. He added that he had not read Khawaja’s book and had no prior knowledge of the claim that sandpaper was also used during the second Test at Port Elizabeth. Meanwhile, David Warner, who served a suspension for his role in the scandal, has publicly supported Khawaja’s claims, describing them as “100% accurate.”
The Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) issued a statement acknowledging the 2018 tour as a “low point for Australian cricket.” The organization suggested that after eight years, individuals involved may hold different memories and perspectives, and they urged an end to the ongoing public criticism directed at the players involved.
