Root declines to comment on Khawaja's ball-tampering allegations

Summarised from 4 outlets · 9 reports · Updated 11 Nov, 21:02 · Archive

Joe Root has refused to speculate on Usman Khawaja's claim that Australia's entire team knew about ball-tampering during the 2018 sandpaper scandal.

Usman Khawaja's newly published autobiography has reignited the ball-tampering scandal that engulfed Australian cricket eight years ago. The former opening batter claims the entire touring party to South Africa in 2018 was aware of the plot to alter the ball's condition, contradicting the official findings that only three players bore responsibility.

Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera applying sandpaper to the ball during a Test in Cape Town. He received a nine-month ban, whilst captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner, deemed the architect of the plot, were handed year-long suspensions. Cricket Australia's investigation at the time concluded that no other players were involved.

Khawaja's account challenges this conclusion. He claims ball-tampering with sandpaper occurred during the previous Test in Port Elizabeth and that the team experimented with lifting the seam during the 2017-18 Ashes series at home to England, which Australia won 4-0. He has said that responsibility lay with 'all of us' and that his attempts to take collective blame were rejected by specific squad members.

Root, currently in Australia ahead of a three-match ODI series beginning in Perth on Friday, was asked about Khawaja's allegations. He replied: 'I can only speak from my own experiences, that's not how I feel,' when asked if he believed ball-tampering was widespread in international cricket at the time. Root captained England to a 4-0 defeat during that 2017-18 Ashes series.

On Khawaja's specific claims, Root declined to speculate. 'We obviously have no idea about it. It's all speculation. I wasn't in that dressing room. I don't know what went on. I don't want to speculate.' He stated that England's focus was on the upcoming ODI series and reiterated that he did not wish to add to the speculation surrounding the scandal.

Khawaja has also claimed that 'the whole world' was attempting to tamper with the ball during international cricket. Root disputed this, saying he could only speak to his own experience and that this was not the case in England's teams.

The allegations have sparked fresh debate in Australia. Former England wicketkeeper Matt Prior has questioned how Australia's bowlers could have been unaware of the ball-tampering, arguing that bowlers would necessarily be consulted about the condition of the ball. The bowlers in that Cape Town Test – Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon – released a statement in 2021 reaffirming their innocence, and Starc has maintained he had no knowledge of the plot following Khawaja's revelations this week. David Warner has backed Khawaja and claimed the Cricket Australia investigation was 'rushed and botched'.

How it is being reported

• It would have been IMPOSSIBLE for Australian bowlers to be in the dark over ball tampering, claims ex-England wicketkeeper Matt Prior as he weighs in on fresh scandalRICHARD GIBSON: Matt Prior has rubbished the idea that Australia's bowlers had no knowledge of the team's ball tampering ploys in the lead-up to Sandpapergate.Daily Mail Sport · 11 Nov, 15:19
• Matt Prior questions Australia bowlers' sandpaper scandal stance after Usman Khawaja revelationUsman Khawaja's claim that the entire Australia team and coaching staff were in on the decision to use sandpaper against South Africa in 2018 has raised uncomfortable questionsMirror Sport · 11 Nov, 14:47
• Exposed: The bombshell Sandpapergate claims contained in David Warner's secret court references months ago... Plus, Rita Panahi's cosy drinks with a right-minded AFL legend: INSIDE MAILWe reveal the Sandpaper-gate claims made in a never-released character reference for David Warner months before Usman Khawaja sparked cricket's latest civil warDaily Mail · 11 Nov, 12:59
• Hussain calls 'Sandpapergate' affair a 'complete mess'Sky Sports' Nasser Hussain has called the Australia 'Sandpapergate' affair and its subsequent explosive fallout a "complete mess".Sky Sports · 11 Nov, 12:15
• Joe Root shuts down Usman Khawaja's claim that 'the whole world' was ball tampering after Australian's explosive Sandpapergate confessionLAWRENCE BOOTH: Joe Root has played down Usman Khawaja's claim that 'the whole world' was tampering with the ball after the former Australia opener's revelations.Daily Mail Sport · 11 Nov, 08:57
• ‘They can’t trust what’s real’: Australia’s bowlers have questions to answer after Usman Khawaja claimsThree players were punished, but Usman Khawaja alleges the whole team knew about Sandpapergate. Eight years on, writes Lawrence Ostlere , Australia’s bowlers are under fresh scrutinyIndependent Sport · 11 Nov, 07:43
• Joe Root refuses to wade into Australia’s ‘sandpapergate’ ball tampering rowRoot says England are focused on the upcoming one day internationals and that he does not want to add to speculation concerning the ball-tampering scandalIndependent Sport · 11 Nov, 07:29
• Joe Root refuses to wade into Australia’s ‘sandpapergate’ ball tampering rowSteve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were the only parties punished after an investigation by Cricket Australia in 2018.Independent Sport · 11 Nov, 07:16
• Root doesn't feel ball-tampering was rife in cricket at time of 'Sandpapergate'England's Joe Root says he does not believe ball-tampering was rampant across the international game at the time of Australia's 'Sandpapergate' scandal as he chose not to pile in on his Ashes rivals following Usman Khawaja's explosive claims.Sky Sports · 11 Nov, 07:00

In this story: Joe Root · Usman Khawaja · Steve Smith · David Warner · Cameron Bancroft · Australia · England · South Africa

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