{"id":2242446,"date":"2026-11-06T22:06:57","date_gmt":"2026-11-06T19:06:57","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2026-11-06T22:06:57","modified_gmt":"2026-11-06T19:06:57","slug":"sandpapergate-usman-khawaja-claims-whole-australia-team-knew-about-use-of-sandpaper-to-tamper-with-ball-against-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2242446","title":{"rendered":"Sandpapergate: Usman Khawaja claims whole Australia team knew about use of sandpaper to tamper with ball against South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/branded_sport\/1200\/cpsprodpb\/7397\/live\/29b455a0-da27-11f1-a78c-49bd6dfbb9b5.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"ssrcss-2fe4mx-ArticleWrapper e1nh2i2l0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-15twdc6-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<div data-block=\"headline\" class=\"ssrcss-l7emlr-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-usmnse-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<header data-testid=\"headline\">\n<h1 id=\"main-heading\" tabindex=\"-1\" class=\"ssrcss-8zqj65-Heading e10rt3ze0\"><span role=\"text\">Whole Australia team knew of sandpaper use &#8211; Khawaja<\/span><\/h1>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"image\" class=\"ssrcss-l7emlr-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-126h8e-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"image\" class=\"ssrcss-1uy5kw5-FullWidthWrapper ep2nwvo1\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-hc6arm-StyledFigure e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-gf6twm-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/7397\/live\/29b455a0-da27-11f1-a78c-49bd6dfbb9b5.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/7397\/live\/29b455a0-da27-11f1-a78c-49bd6dfbb9b5.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/7397\/live\/29b455a0-da27-11f1-a78c-49bd6dfbb9b5.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/7397\/live\/29b455a0-da27-11f1-a78c-49bd6dfbb9b5.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/7397\/live\/29b455a0-da27-11f1-a78c-49bd6dfbb9b5.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/7397\/live\/29b455a0-da27-11f1-a78c-49bd6dfbb9b5.jpg.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/span><span role=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-tzgxt7-StyledFigureCopyright e34k3c20\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">Image source, <\/span>Getty Images<\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"ssrcss-3uli8u-StyledFigureCaption ehbdhz00\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">Image caption, <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-15twdc6-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Usman Khawaja made his Test debut for Australia against England in 2011<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"byline\" class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-126h8e-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"single-byline\" class=\"ssrcss-sevsa1-ContributorContainer ee66fvo3\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-dt4z-ContributorInfo ee66fvo0\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">By<\/span><span class=\"ssrcss-nsjd43-TextContributorName epw3ir01\">Timothy Abraham<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-dqo7s5-ContributorDetails ee66fvo2\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1m5444d-Text ee66fvo4\">BBC Sport Journalist<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"metadata\" class=\"ssrcss-l7emlr-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-126h8e-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"metadata\">\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-9tw7r1-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-10q9h22-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-sf7vdp-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">Published<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-61mhsj-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\"><time data-testid=\"timestamp\" datetime=\"2026-11-06T22:06:57.862Z\">6 November 2026, 22:06 GMT<\/time><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1ey53kj-MetadataSnippetWrapper exhp0uq0\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-61mhsj-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\"><time data-testid=\"timestamp\" datetime=\"2026-11-06T23:11:56.362Z\">Updated 2 minutes ago<\/time><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-126h8e-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"rich-text\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-nqezkk-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\"><b>Usman Khawaja has claimed the entire Australia team knew about the use of sandpaper to tamper with the ball in the final Test of their 2018 series with South Africa.<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">In extracts of his autobiography &#8211; Sabr &#8211; published in the Sydney Morning Herald,<span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">, external<\/span> the former opening batter said Australia had also used the ball-tampering tactic in the Test before the infamous match in Cape Town.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The incident &#8211; nicknamed &#8216;sandpapergate&#8217; &#8211; was widely condemned and led to bans for captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and fellow batter Cameron Bancroft.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us,&#8221; Khawaja, 39, told the Sydney Morning Herald.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The four Australia bowlers who played in that match, including current Test captain Pat Cummins, have consistently denied they had any prior knowledge of the plan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">In 2021, Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon issued a joint statement saying they &#8220;did not know a foreign substance was taken on to the field&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"subheadline\" class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-usmnse-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"subheadline\">\n<h2 id=\"Smith-threw-his-hands-in-the-air\" tabindex=\"-1\" class=\"ssrcss-1sc9t00-Heading e10rt3ze0\"><span role=\"text\">Smith &#8216;threw his hands in the air&#8217;<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-126h8e-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"rich-text\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-nqezkk-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Khawaja, who scored 6,229 runs in 88 Tests, said that discussions about tampering with the ball began during the second Test of the series against South Africa.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">That match, played at Port Elizabeth &#8211; now Gqeberha &#8211; led to what Khawaja said was the &#8220;discovery of sandpaper as an effective agent&#8221; after &#8220;open&#8221; discussions held in the dressing room at St George&#8217;s Park.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;At this point Smith essentially threw his hands in the air and said he didn&#8217;t want to know,&#8221; Khawaja wrote.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Australia were rumbled in the third Test when television cameras clearly showed Bancroft using sandpaper on the ball to help generate reverse swing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Khawaja was also shocked not to be asked to provide any evidence during Cricket Australia&#8217;s investigation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;In an ideal world, I don&#8217;t want to do this. I don&#8217;t want to be the one who comes out and talks about the truth,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;The issue is that I genuinely thought after eight years the truth would have been out by now.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">While Smith, Warner and Bancroft &#8211; all batters &#8211; were punished, there was never an explanation of how bowlers Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon did not notice a change in the state of the ball.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">In a 2021 interview with the Guardian, Bancroft was asked if the bowlers knew and replied: &#8220;It&#8217;s pretty probably self-explanatory.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Days after Bancroft&#8217;s interview was published, the quartet released their statement which said: &#8220;We feel compelled to put the key facts on the record again.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;We did not know a foreign substance was taken on to the field to alter the condition of the ball until we saw the images on the big screen at Newlands.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;And to those who, despite the absence of evidence, insist that &#8216;we must have known&#8217; about the use of a foreign substance simply because we are bowlers, we say this: The umpires during that Test match, Nigel Llong and Richard Illingworth, both very respected and experienced umpires, inspected the ball after the images surfaced on the TV coverage and did not change it because there was no sign of damage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;We respectfully request an end to the rumour-mongering and innuendo. It has gone on too long and it is time to move on.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"media\" class=\"ssrcss-l7emlr-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-126h8e-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1uy5kw5-FullWidthWrapper ep2nwvo1\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-hc6arm-StyledFigure e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\">\n<div data-chromatic=\"ignore\" class=\"ssrcss-dtyrnv-MediaPlayerWrapper e1h75hkw2\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1553su4-ErrorMessage eitf6465\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-h7lv7m-StyledInnerContainer eitf6464\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-nbxsk2-TextContent eitf6461\">\n<h2 class=\"ssrcss-89o2pv-Heading e10rt3ze0\">To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">This video can not be played<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ssrcss-3uli8u-StyledFigureCaption ehbdhz00\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">Figure caption, <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-15twdc6-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">How sandpapergate was exposed<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-126h8e-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"rich-text\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-nqezkk-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Before Australia&#8217;s recent Test series in South Africa &#8211; which the Proteas won 2-1 &#8211; Cummins said he had spoken to Khawaja about the publication of the book.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The 33-year-old said he has no concerns about potential sandpapergate revelations and felt it was &#8220;all dealt with then&#8221; and the team had &#8220;moved on&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;He didn&#8217;t go into too much detail, just basically gave me the heads-up that he is doing a book and, as always, no worries,&#8221; Cummins said on 8 October.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;Tell your story. It&#8217;s fine. It&#8217;s obviously a long time ago and all the investigations, everything was done back then and we answered every question a million times.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Khawaja also said he had consistently argued that the team should take responsibility together, including in the dressing room after the Cape Town Test.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">He wrote: &#8220;I said: &#8216;Take this as a team. We did this as a team. We knew what was going on, and we have to take it as a team&#8217;.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;Obviously, it didn&#8217;t work that way, and those three guys got crucified.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">In his memoir, named after an Arabic term for resilience and endurance, Khawaja dedicated the chapter on Cape Town to Smith, Warner and Bancroft.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">The left-handed batter said he thought the trio &#8220;deserve&#8221; the &#8220;justice&#8221; of collective blame from the team as a whole.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">He added: &#8220;None of those three want to be the first to say anything. And rightly so, it will just be hearsay and &#8216;their word&#8217; if they do. They needed someone else to say something.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">&#8220;But I&#8217;m not doing this for any other reason than I think it&#8217;s the right thing to do.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"storyboard\" class=\"ssrcss-l7emlr-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-126h8e-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<section aria-labelledby=\"storyboard-9-image-gallery\" class=\"ssrcss-1syjlyd-ImageGallerySection e47idof9\"><span id=\"storyboard-9-image-gallery\" class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">Image gallery<\/span><span class=\"ssrcss-z9ffh5-StyledAccessibilityLinks e47idof8\">Skip image gallery<\/span><\/p>\n<ol tabindex=\"0\" class=\"ssrcss-1asp21u-Gallery e47idof7\">\n<li aria-hidden=\"false\" data-testid=\"storyboard-9-slide0\" class=\"ssrcss-1kcac0m-Slide e47idof6\">\n<div>\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-hc6arm-StyledFigure e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-tl9r1j-ContainerWithBackground e47idof5\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-15ijjmi-ContentPositioning e47idof4\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-195lu2g-ImageContainer e47idof3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-stkx37-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/3030\/live\/dec16450-c259-11f1-8b25-57b2b04e8d85.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/3030\/live\/dec16450-c259-11f1-8b25-57b2b04e8d85.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/3030\/live\/dec16450-c259-11f1-8b25-57b2b04e8d85.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/3030\/live\/dec16450-c259-11f1-8b25-57b2b04e8d85.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/3030\/live\/dec16450-c259-11f1-8b25-57b2b04e8d85.jpg.webp 800w\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span role=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-tzgxt7-StyledFigureCopyright e34k3c20\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">Image source, <\/span>Getty Images<\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"ssrcss-xh389s-StyledFigureCaption e196ruog0\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">Image caption, <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-15twdc6-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Steve Smith cries when speaking to the media on his return to Australia<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-hidden=\"true\" data-testid=\"storyboard-9-slide1\" class=\"ssrcss-1kcac0m-Slide e47idof6\">\n<div>\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-hc6arm-StyledFigure e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1h0rs6y-ContainerWithBackground e47idof5\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-15ijjmi-ContentPositioning e47idof4\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-195lu2g-ImageContainer e47idof3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-12tfana-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/deb1\/live\/f3a0b6f0-c259-11f1-8b25-57b2b04e8d85.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/deb1\/live\/f3a0b6f0-c259-11f1-8b25-57b2b04e8d85.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/deb1\/live\/f3a0b6f0-c259-11f1-8b25-57b2b04e8d85.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/deb1\/live\/f3a0b6f0-c259-11f1-8b25-57b2b04e8d85.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/deb1\/live\/f3a0b6f0-c259-11f1-8b25-57b2b04e8d85.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/deb1\/live\/f3a0b6f0-c259-11f1-8b25-57b2b04e8d85.jpg.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span role=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-tzgxt7-StyledFigureCopyright e34k3c20\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">Image source, <\/span>Getty Images<\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"ssrcss-xh389s-StyledFigureCaption e196ruog0\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">Image caption, <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-15twdc6-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">David Warner was also emotional when he spoke to journalists<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li aria-hidden=\"true\" data-testid=\"storyboard-9-slide2\" class=\"ssrcss-1kcac0m-Slide e47idof6\">\n<div>\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-hc6arm-StyledFigure e34k3c22\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ch49r-ContainerWithBackground e47idof5\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-15ijjmi-ContentPositioning e47idof4\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-195lu2g-ImageContainer e47idof3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-10yd3is-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/9c82\/live\/071c0cc0-c25a-11f1-8b25-57b2b04e8d85.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/9c82\/live\/071c0cc0-c25a-11f1-8b25-57b2b04e8d85.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/9c82\/live\/071c0cc0-c25a-11f1-8b25-57b2b04e8d85.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/9c82\/live\/071c0cc0-c25a-11f1-8b25-57b2b04e8d85.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/9c82\/live\/071c0cc0-c25a-11f1-8b25-57b2b04e8d85.jpg.webp 800w\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span role=\"text\" class=\"ssrcss-tzgxt7-StyledFigureCopyright e34k3c20\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">Image source, <\/span>Getty Images<\/span><\/div><figcaption class=\"ssrcss-xh389s-StyledFigureCaption e196ruog0\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">Image caption, <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-15twdc6-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph e1jhz7w10\">Australia coach Darren Lehmann struggles to hold back the tears after announcing his resignation<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<div hidden class=\"ssrcss-g0cdwt-StyledControls e47idof2\">\n<p data-testid=\"storyboard-9-current-entry\" class=\"ssrcss-16dkdda-CurrentEntry e47idof0\">1 of 3<\/p>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1avon3o-Buttons e47idof1\"><button type=\"button\" disabled data-testid=\"storyboard-9-back-button\" class=\"ssrcss-sw1cuu-Button eoocusk1\"><span data-testid=\"arrows:chevron-left\" class=\"ssrcss-lymy45-IconWrapper eoocusk0\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">Previous image<\/span><\/span><\/button><button type=\"button\" data-testid=\"storyboard-9-forward-button\" class=\"ssrcss-sw1cuu-Button eoocusk1\"><span data-testid=\"arrows:chevron-right\" class=\"ssrcss-lymy45-IconWrapper eoocusk0\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">Next image<\/span><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span data-testid=\"storyboard-9-live-region\" id=\"storyboard-9-live-region\" aria-live=\"polite\" class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\"><span role=\"text\">Slide1 of 3, Steve Smith cries when speaking to the media on his return to Australia, Steve Smith cries when speaking to the media on his return to Australia<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">\n<div id=\"storyboard-9-end-of-image-gallery\" tabindex=\"-1\">End of image gallery<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"topicList\" class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-tcr9z1-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<div data-testid=\"topic-list\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-nj9heb-StyledTagContainer ed0g1kj1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1pfbb52-TopicListHeaderWrapper etw6iwl0\">\n<h2 class=\"ssrcss-89o2pv-Heading e10rt3ze0\">Related topics<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17ehax8-Cluster e1ihwmse1\">\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-w8zanw-ClusterItems e1ihwmse0\">\n<li>Cricket<\/li>\n<li>Australia<\/li>\n<li>South Africa<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-block=\"promoList\" class=\"ssrcss-vxwoax-ComponentWrapper e1aon0op1\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-tcr9z1-Spacer e1aon0op0\">\n<h2 class=\"ssrcss-89o2pv-Heading e10rt3ze0\">More on this story<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"ssrcss-1ughxsy-List e880cno1\">\n<li>\n<div data-testid=\"promo\" class=\"ssrcss-ccqz3i-Promo e1vyq2e80\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1u1fh10-PromoSwitchLayoutAtBreakpoints et5qctl0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-wg79iw-PromoContent exn3ah912\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-l0lt4o-Stack e1y4nx260\"><span role=\"text\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-6bmydz-PromoHeadline exn3ah99\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">What was the sandpaper scandal?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-l0lt4o-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-9tw7r1-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-10q9h22-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-sf7vdp-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">Published<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-61mhsj-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\">24 November 2025<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-z60stg-PromoImageContainer en81kx34\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17h6w1t-PromoImageContainerInner en81kx32\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-fec6qv-ImageWrapper en81kx33\"><span class=\"ssrcss-17ddwf4-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/9a35\/live\/bf1df2b0-c946-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/9a35\/live\/bf1df2b0-c946-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/9a35\/live\/bf1df2b0-c946-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/9a35\/live\/bf1df2b0-c946-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 624w\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div data-testid=\"promo\" class=\"ssrcss-ccqz3i-Promo e1vyq2e80\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1u1fh10-PromoSwitchLayoutAtBreakpoints et5qctl0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-wg79iw-PromoContent exn3ah912\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-l0lt4o-Stack e1y4nx260\"><span role=\"text\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-6bmydz-PromoHeadline exn3ah99\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">How an &#8216;absolute fluke&#8217; exposed sandpapergate scandal<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-l0lt4o-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-9tw7r1-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-10q9h22-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-sf7vdp-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">Published<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-61mhsj-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\">7 October<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-z60stg-PromoImageContainer en81kx34\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17h6w1t-PromoImageContainerInner en81kx32\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-fec6qv-ImageWrapper en81kx33\"><span class=\"ssrcss-aiyr3n-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/121f\/live\/b9a9c1d0-c26d-11f1-bc2e-018d645d8d21.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/121f\/live\/b9a9c1d0-c26d-11f1-bc2e-018d645d8d21.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/121f\/live\/b9a9c1d0-c26d-11f1-bc2e-018d645d8d21.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/121f\/live\/b9a9c1d0-c26d-11f1-bc2e-018d645d8d21.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/121f\/live\/b9a9c1d0-c26d-11f1-bc2e-018d645d8d21.jpg.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/976\/cpsprodpb\/121f\/live\/b9a9c1d0-c26d-11f1-bc2e-018d645d8d21.jpg.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<div data-testid=\"promo\" class=\"ssrcss-ccqz3i-Promo e1vyq2e80\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1u1fh10-PromoSwitchLayoutAtBreakpoints et5qctl0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-wg79iw-PromoContent exn3ah912\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-l0lt4o-Stack e1y4nx260\"><span role=\"text\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"ssrcss-6bmydz-PromoHeadline exn3ah99\"><span aria-hidden=\"false\">Get cricket news sent straight to your phone<\/span><\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-l0lt4o-Stack e1y4nx260\">\n<div>\n<ul role=\"list\" class=\"ssrcss-9tw7r1-MetadataStripContainer eh44mf03\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-10q9h22-GroupChildrenForWrapping eh44mf02\">\n<li role=\"listitem\" class=\"ssrcss-sf7vdp-MetadataStripItem eh44mf01\">\n<div class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-i2z2ig-VisuallyHidden e16en2lz0\">Published<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-m5j4pi-MetadataContent eh44mf00\"><span class=\"ssrcss-1pvwv4b-MetadataSnippet e4wm5bw3\"><span class=\"ssrcss-61mhsj-MetadataText e4wm5bw1\">28 August<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/div>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-z60stg-PromoImageContainer en81kx34\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-17h6w1t-PromoImageContainerInner en81kx32\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-fec6qv-ImageWrapper en81kx33\"><span class=\"ssrcss-8h9fga-Placeholder etlorgc0\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/240\/cpsprodpb\/b2c7\/live\/922d6170-544c-11ef-aebc-6de4d31bf5cd.jpg.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/320\/cpsprodpb\/b2c7\/live\/922d6170-544c-11ef-aebc-6de4d31bf5cd.jpg.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/480\/cpsprodpb\/b2c7\/live\/922d6170-544c-11ef-aebc-6de4d31bf5cd.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/624\/cpsprodpb\/b2c7\/live\/922d6170-544c-11ef-aebc-6de4d31bf5cd.jpg.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/standard\/800\/cpsprodpb\/b2c7\/live\/922d6170-544c-11ef-aebc-6de4d31bf5cd.jpg.webp 800w\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/sport\/cricket\/articles\/cjdx33kyzk3lo&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/ace\/branded_sport\/1200\/cpsprodpb\/7397\/live\/29b455a0-da27-11f1-a78c-49bd6dfbb9b5.jpg&#8221;] Whole Australia team knew of sandpaper use &#8211; Khawaja Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Usman Khawaja made his Test debut for Australia against England in 2011 ByTimothy Abraham BBC Sport Journalist Published 6 November 2026, 22:06 GMT Updated 2 minutes ago Usman Khawaja has claimed the entire Australia team knew about the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2242446","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2242446","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2242446"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2242446\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2242446"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2242446"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2242446"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}