Australia captain Pat Cummins has confirmed he recently spoke with former teammate Usman Khawaja regarding the latter’s forthcoming autobiography. Despite the book’s impending release in November, Cummins stated he holds no concerns over potential disclosures related to the 2018 Cape Town ball-tampering scandal, often referred to as “sandpapergate.”
The discussion comes as Australia prepares to face South Africa in Durban on Friday, marking their first Test series in the country since that controversial 2018 incident. During that series, which included four Tests, Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft were punished for their roles in a plot to alter the condition of the ball using sandpaper. Khawaja participated in all four matches during that tour and has since retired from international cricket as of January.
Cummins, who played 56 Tests alongside Khawaja, addressed the book during a press session. “Uz gave me a buzz a few weeks back that he is releasing a book,” the captain noted. He explained that Khawaja provided a heads-up without going into extensive detail, adding that he told his former colleague to proceed with his story. Cummins emphasized that the matter was thoroughly investigated years ago, noting that the team has “answered every question a million times” and has since evolved.
The 2018 controversy centered on the “leadership group” devising a plan to manipulate the ball on the third day of the third Test. While the three aforementioned batters faced suspensions, questions have persisted regarding why the team’s bowlers—Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon—were not aware of the ball’s state. In a 2021 interview with The Guardian, Bancroft suggested that the bowlers’ knowledge was “self-explanatory” when questioned on the matter.
Despite these lingering questions, the four bowlers remain firm in their denials of any prior knowledge. The group released a joint statement in 2021 and is now set to reunite for the upcoming Test series in Durban. Cummins reiterated that his primary focus remains on his leadership duties, stating, “As a group, we have moved on and we are very happy with the last eight to nine years how we have been as a group and evolved.” The quartet, who released a joint statement about the episode in 2021, are once again set to be united in the first Test against South Africa in Durban.
