'Gloves are off' - how Australian papers reacted to Cummins on Khawaja
Summary
Usman Khawaja’s autobiography has reopened debate over Australia’s 2018 ball-tampering scandal, known as Sandpapergate. Captain Pat Cummins rejected Khawaja’s claims at a news conference, while Australian newspapers highlighted the dispute and differing responses from former teammates and officials.Key Facts
- Khawaja’s autobiography says the entire Australia team knew about the ball-tampering scheme and should have taken responsibility.
- Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were punished for using sandpaper to tamper with the ball during a 2018 Test against South Africa in Cape Town.
- Cummins called Khawaja’s claims “100% wrong” and “nonsense” at a news conference on Friday.
- Warner and seam bowler Chadd Sayers supported Khawaja’s account.
- Former coach Darren Lehmann, former assistant Graeme Hick and bowler Mitchell Starc rejected Khawaja’s accusations.
- Khawaja alleges that a coach urged Australia to find ways to make the ball swing and that Bancroft was later encouraged to cheat.
- Australian newspapers focused on Cummins’s response and Warner’s criticism of him.
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