Sandpaper Scandal Reignited: Bancroft Wants to 'Move On' After Khawaja's Bombshell Claims
WA coach Beau Casson says Cameron Bancroft wants to move on after Usman Khawaja's book reveals more about the 2018 Sandpaper incident.
The ghosts of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal have returned to haunt Australian cricket. Fresh allegations regarding the infamous Sandpaper incident claims have surfaced, courtesy of former Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja, sparking a renewed debate over the events that shook the sporting world.
Khawaja’s Revelations in 'Sabr'
In his upcoming autobiography titled Sabr, scheduled for release this Tuesday, Usman Khawaja has dropped several bombshells that suggest the cheating went beyond the well-documented Cape Town Test. According to reports, Khawaja claims that the use of sandpaper was discussed and implemented as early as the second Test at Gqeberha.
The most striking part of these revelations centers on Cameron Bancroft. Khawaja alleges that Bancroft, who was then only six matches into his Test career, volunteered to tamper with the ball during the first innings of the Gqeberha Test—a match where the ball exhibited significant swing.
The Boundary Plot
Extracts from the book describe a calculated effort to manipulate the ball. Khawaja writes about a routine where the umpires would leave the ball near the boundary at the start of a session.
"We all knew that the umpire would drop the ball on the boundary as we went out onto the field," Khawaja wrote. "Straightaway, Bull [David Warner] said, 'Well, I can't do it - they're all over me.' I was never going to do it, nor did I think anyone else would. So I just laughed. Then, Cameron Bancroft... said, 'I'll do it'."
Khawaja further suggests that for Bancroft, this wasn't a monumental transgression because it was perceived as common practice. The book claims Bancroft told teammates, "Yeah, no worries - it'll be easy," believing that other teams in both Shield and world cricket were engaging in similar behavior.
Bancroft’s Response Through His Coach
While the revelations have put Bancroft back in the spotlight, his current Western Australia coach, Beau Casson, has signaled that the player has no intention of engaging in a public war of words. Speaking to reporters, Casson emphasized that Bancroft is focused on the present rather than the past.
"The situation's a long time ago. I think he's keen to move on and let his bat do the talking," Casson stated. He praised Bancroft's professionalism and the maturity with which he has handled the fallout over the years, noting that his conduct sets an example for other professional cricketers.
A Differing Path to Redemption
The 2018 scandal resulted in nine-month bans for Bancroft, Steven Smith, and David Warner. However, the aftermath of the incident played out very differently for the three men.
- Steven Smith and David Warner: Both successfully fought their way back into the national side, enjoying extended international careers after their suspensions.
- Cameron Bancroft: His return was far more fleeting. After a brief comeback during the 2019 Ashes tour where he played two matches, he has remained on the periphery of the international setup and has not represented Australia since.
As the cricketing world awaits the full publication of Sabr, it remains to be seen if Bancroft will eventually break his silence or if he will indeed let his performance on the field be his only answer.