Sandpapergate: Usman Khawaja, Pat Cummins claims explained as 2018 ball-tampering scandal rocks Australian cricket again

The ball-tampering scandal that rocked world cricket eight years ago has come back into the spotlight in stunning fashion.

Australia's enthralling 2-1 Test series defeat in South Africa in October marked the Baggy Greens' first tour of the country since the infamous 2018 ball-tampering scandal. The controversy saw Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft handed lengthy bans after Bancroft was caught on camera using sandpaper to tamper with the ball.

The 2026 series, though, was free from toxicity around 'sandpapergate' and looked to have finally moved the conversation on from the infamous incident at Newlands just under a decade ago.

• England hammered by Australia in Perth in first OD
• Cummins dismisses Khawaja claims as 'utter nonsense' in 68-minute press conference
• Get the latest Sky Sports deals or stream with no contract

But, sensationally, former Aussie opener Usman Khawaja has now reignited discussion with the explosive claims in his new book 'Sabr' that the entire team were part of a plot to use illegal methods to elicit reverse swing.

These are claims that Warner has supported, but Australia's bowling group, led by current Test captain Pat Cummins, has firmly denied.

After the initial scandal, Khawaja's revelations, and Cummins' 68-minute press conference on Friday in response, Sky Sports takes you through everything you need to know as one of the biggest cricket stories takes yet another turn...

What is 'sandpapergate'?

That was the name given to the March 2018 ball-tampering scandal during Australia's Test tour of South Africa after Bancroft was caught on camera trying to rough up one side of the ball with sandpaper in order the make it swing through the air.

The incident occurred on day three of the third Test in Cape Town while South Africa were batting in their second innings, with Bancroft aiming to hide the sandpaper, which he initially said was a piece of tape, in his trousers after realising he had been spotted.

At the close of play, Bancroft and Australia captain Smith admitted to ball-tampering during a press conference, although neither initially disclosed the use of sandpaper. Smith revealed that the plan had been devised by the team's 'leadership group' during the lunch break.

What were the punishments?

Smith and vice-captain Warner relinquished their leadership duties for the remainder of the Cape Town Test but remained in the side as the Baggy Greens, under the captaincy of Tim Paine, slumped to a 322-run defeat. Australia were bowled out for just 107 in their second innings, with Warner top-scoring on 32, Bancroft contributing 26 and Smith managing just seven.

Smith, Warner and Bancroft were sent home ahead of the fourth Test, in which Australia were hammered by 492 runs to fall to a 3-1 series defeat, and later received hefty bans from international and domestic cricket, ranging from nine months to a year.

They were each found by Cricket Australia to have engaged in conduct against the spirit of the game and harmful to its interests.

Warner was found to have led the plot to alter the condition of the ball, including guiding Bancroft on how to use the sandpaper.

Warner was handed a 12-month ban and told he would never again be considered for a leadership position within the Australian team.

Smith, who was eventually succeeded permanently by Paine as captain, also received a 12-month suspension for failing to prevent a plan he knew about and making misleading comments in the aftermath. He was further barred from holding a leadership role until at least 12 months after the conclusion of his ban.

Bancroft, meanwhile, was handed a nine-month suspension.

Australia's bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon escaped punishment, later issuing a joint statement in 2021 insisting they had no prior knowledge of the ball-tampering plot.

What did Khawaja say?

Khawaja reignited the controversy surrounding sandpapergate in November with explosive claims that the entire Australian team knew sandpaper was being used to alter the ball. His allegations directly contradicted previous statements from Cricket Australia and members of the bowling attack, which maintained that only Smith, Bancroft and Warner were involved in the plot.

The batter, who retired from international cricket following Australia's 4-1 Ashes victory to England last winter, said: "It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us."

In further extracts from his autobiography, released on Saturday, Khawaja alleged that discussions about ball-tampering had been held "openly and lightheartedly" across the entire squad, involving not just the batters, bowlers and coaching staff but the wider team. He also claimed he was never questioned as part of Cricket Australia's internal investigation into the scandal.

He also added that he had chosen to speak about the sandpapergate scandal now after promising childhood friend Warner that ​he would share his side of the story - claims that Warner has backed as "100 per cent accurate" in the days since the book's release.

What did Cummins say?

Australia's current Test captain Pat Cummins, who was a relatively inexperienced member of the side at the time, playing just his 13th Test match when the scandal unfolded, rejected Khawaja's latest allegations on Friday.

He opened the press conference by insisting he was prepared to answer questions for as long as necessary, making clear he did not want the controversy repeatedly dragged back into the spotlight every time a new book was published or fresh claims emerged.

After an hour, a cricket administrator suggested bringing the press conference to a close, but Cummins once again invited reporters to continue asking questions for as long as they wished. The session eventually lasted another 10 minutes.

"When he says we all knew, if by that he means that we knew sandpaper was going out in the field, ​he's 100 per cent wrong. I've said that consistently for the last eight years," ‌Cummins told reporters.

"I did not know that was happening, but Usman actually says things that ​are actually far more serious than that.

"He says that I and others were architects of a scheme to ball tamper with sandpaper. That's complete and utter nonsense."

Cummins, who was appointed Australia captain in November 2021, criticised Khawaja for being "casual" with the lives of his former team-mates and Australian cricket as a whole.

"Usman's a friend, but friends aren't casual with each other's lives and ​reputations," Cummins said.

"In his book, Ussie has been casual with my life and the ​lives of many others, and I think Australian cricket."

Who has backed Khawaja?

Arguably the most impactful claims made in support of Khawaja's revelations have been those of Warner, who has thrown his full backing behind his former team-mate.

"This is Usman's story. This is what Usman believes. Uzzy wrote down every single thing from that day on. Uzzy, thank you," Warner said.

"Now, this whole interview process was rushed and botched. Uzzy was sitting next to Cameron Bancroft. Uzzy was not interviewed. How is that a thorough investigation? It baffles me.

"We're not here to point fingers and we're not opening old wounds. It's about accountability, transparency and ensuring that the truth is properly examined."

"This is for everyone in Australia," he continued. "It's been the question that everyone's been asking. Uzzy, you said it how it is. It's 100 per cent accurate."

Warner reiterated his support of Khawaja after Cummins' press conference, saying that he feels that the Aussie captain "threw Uzzy under the bus."

Former Australia bowler Chadd Sayers, who was part of the 2018 tour of South Africa, has also claimed that "everything Usman said was accurate."

Who has backed Cummins?

Alongside Cummins, bowler Starc has denied any prior knowledge of sandpapergate, backing the joint statement released by the bowlers five years ago.

"There are differing opinions of eight years ago," Starc said. "We were heavily grilled through the process, at the time and since.

"I won't speak on behalf of the bowlers but from where I stand my opinion hasn't changed, my recollection hasn't changed from what we said in 2021."

Australia opener Nic Maddinson was not shy to share his displeasure with the fact that the scandal had reappeared in the headlines when speaking to 10 Sport.

"It's obviously disappointing that it keeps coming up," Maddinson added.

"But it's that time of year, isn't it? Christmas comes along and people have books to sell. Things come out. It's just disappointing."

What will Cricket Australia do?

Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg, who was not part of the governing board at the time of the scandal, has ruled out a fresh inquiry into the incident in the wake of Khawaja's claims.

Greenberg told Australian radio station SEN: "We don't see any compelling reason to open the investigation or revisit this again. I don't think there's anything that can be gained from that.

"We have said we're comfortable with the outcome of the investigation based on the information we've received. That includes what we've seen from Usman. Our position hasn't changed on that."

Finally, is there anything more still to come out?

Who knows?

While Cricket Australia's investigation concluded that Warner, Smith and Bancroft were the only players involved in the ball-tampering plot, Bancroft suggested otherwise in a 2021 interview, saying it was "self-explanatory" that the bowlers in the team must have been aware the ball was being tampered with. He has, however, declined to comment on the matter since the publication of Khawaja's book.

Cricket Australia has previously indicated it would be open to investigating any fresh information that came to light, but, according to Greenberg, Khawaja's claims have not met the threshold for reopening the inquiry.

Eight years after the scandal first rocked Australian cricket, the latest revelations have added yet another chapter to a controversy that refuses to go away.

And with so many questions still being raised, it remains to be seen whether this is the last we hear of sandpapergate.

(c) Sky Sports 2026: Sandpapergate: Usman Khawaja, Pat Cummins claims explained as 2018 ball-tampering scandal rocks Australian cricket again