England Test captain Joe Root has declined to address new allegations regarding Australia’s 2018 ball-tampering scandal, commonly referred to as "Sandpapergate." Speaking ahead of England’s upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, Root stated that he had no knowledge of the events that transpired within the Australian dressing room during that period.
"I wasn't in that Australia dressing room, I don't know what went on. I don't want to speculate," Root told reporters. He emphasized that his current focus is solely on his own team and the forthcoming matches, noting that England has no clear information regarding the fresh claims. When asked if he had encountered similar practices during his own career, Root responded that he could only speak from his personal experiences and had not felt involved in such activities.
The controversy was reignited following revelations in the autobiography Sabr, authored by former Australian batter Usman Khawaja. In the book, Khawaja claims that the ball-tampering incident was not limited to Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft. He suggests that the wider Australian squad, including support staff, was aware of the practice. Additionally, Khawaja alleged that the team had been lifting the ball's quarter seam during the 2017-18 Ashes series to facilitate reverse swing, arguing that the three players originally sanctioned should not bear the sole responsibility.
Peter Handscomb, who was also a member of the Australian squad during the Cape Town Test, similarly declined to comment on the new allegations. "I've had a nice day today, and it's not really something that I want to comment on right now," Handscomb said. He added that he intends to let others handle the matter and that players must learn to move forward despite external discussions.
Key facts
- The 2018 ball-tampering scandal occurred during a Test match against South Africa in Cape Town.
- Steve Smith and David Warner received one-year bans, while Cameron Bancroft was suspended for nine months.
- Usman Khawaja’s book, Sabr, alleges the practice involved the wider team and support staff.
- Khawaja claims the Australian team lifted the ball's quarter seam during the 2017-18 Ashes series.
Background
The original scandal saw three Australian players punished after being caught using sandpaper on the ball during the 2018 Cape Town Test.
Source: Times of India
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