Cummins Says Australia Moved on From Sandpapergate Before Khawaja’s Book

Australia captain Pat Cummins has said he is comfortable with former teammate Usman Khawaja sharing his account of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal in his upcoming autobiography, Sabr. Cummins said the Australian team had moved on from the controversy and that he was focused on his responsibilities as captain ahead of the Test series against South Africa. Khawaja’s book is scheduled for release on November 10, after Australia’s three-Test tour of South Africa concludes, potentially bringing renewed attention to one of the most damaging episodes in Australian cricket.

Cummins confirmed that Khawaja had contacted him several weeks earlier to inform him about the upcoming publication. According to the Australia captain, the former opener did not go into extensive detail about the book’s contents during their conversation. Cummins said he had no objection to Khawaja telling his story, signalling that he was not concerned about the possibility of previously undisclosed details emerging from the scandal. However, the contents of the autobiography have not been fully disclosed, and it remains unclear whether it will contain significant new revelations about the incident.

The controversy, widely known as Sandpapergate, erupted during Australia’s Test match against South Africa in Cape Town in March 2018. Television footage showed Australian batter Cameron Bancroft using sandpaper on the ball, triggering an investigation into ball tampering. Cummins and Khawaja were both members of the Australian squad during the series. The incident attracted widespread criticism and placed the conduct of the Australian team under intense scrutiny, with questions raised about the circumstances surrounding the attempt to alter the ball’s condition.

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The scandal resulted in major disciplinary consequences for Australian cricket. Steve Smith stepped down as captain, while David Warner relinquished the vice-captaincy. Cricket Australia subsequently imposed lengthy suspensions on Smith, Warner and Bancroft for their roles in the incident. The episode also prompted a wider examination of the team’s culture and conduct, leaving a lasting impact on Australian cricket and the careers of the players involved. Cummins said the investigations had been completed at the time and that he had answered questions about the matter repeatedly over the years.

Cummins maintained that the team had evolved since the controversy and that his attention was now on leading Australia. He said he was satisfied with how the group had developed over the subsequent eight or nine years, while reiterating that questions about the autobiography’s specific contents should be directed to Khawaja. The renewed interest comes as Australia prepares to face South Africa in a Test series, their first in the country since the 2018 scandal. South African broadcaster SuperSport has also released the full video of the ball-tampering incident on social media, bringing the footage back into public discussion.

Khawaja’s autobiography is expected to reach readers on November 10, following the conclusion of Australia’s three-Test tour. Until its publication, the extent of any new information about Sandpapergate remains uncertain. Cummins has made clear that he does not intend to revisit the controversy in detail, preferring to focus on the current team and its performances. The book could nevertheless renew debate about the events in Cape Town, the decisions made by those involved and how Australian cricket responded to the scandal in the years that followed.

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