Fast bowler Mitchell Starc denied on Tuesday any prior knowledge of Australia's plot to tamper with the ball during the 2018 tour of South Africa, as Cricket Australia (CA) boss Todd Greenberg ruled out another investigation into 'Sandpapergate'. Starc is the first of Australia's bowlers to respond to Usman Khawaja's assertions in his autobiography and on social media that the whole team knew of a plan to manipulate the ball to achieve reverse swing.
Starc reiterated the bowlers' position from a 2021 statement that they did not know a "foreign substance" had been taken onto the field to alter the condition of the ball. "I haven't really paid much attention to be fair; obviously there are differing opinions on events from eight years ago," Starc told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday.
"We were heavily drilled through the process at the time, and since, and I guess I won't speak on behalf of the bowlers, but where I stand, my opinion hasn't changed. My recollection hasn't changed from what we said in 2021."
The scandal triggered an integrity probe by CA and led to bans and other penalties for then-captain Steve Smith and former test openers David Warner and Cameron Bancroft four days after the incident came to light during the Cape Town Test. Khawaja claimed the team began tampering with the ball at the second test against South Africa in Gqeberha, not in the third at Cape Town.
Starc stated that Khawaja's account was the first time he became aware of ball-tampering taking place in Gqeberha. "I'll leave the author to explain," he said.
Warner, who retired from international cricket more than two years ago, broke his silence on Monday to support Khawaja. In a video posted on social media, Warner described his former teammate's account as 100% accurate and the CA investigation as "botched" and "rushed".
Media pundits, including former captain Michael Clarke, have demanded CA re-investigate the case. However, Greenberg told local radio station SEN on Tuesday there was "no compelling reason" to reopen the investigation.
He noted that players held "very different views" from Khawaja's version of events. "There are specific details in his book that contradict the versions provided by others," he said.
"But we have said we're comfortable with the outcome of the investigation based on the information we've received." The ongoing debate continues to cast a shadow over Australian cricket, as fans and analysts remain divided on the integrity of the original findings.
While the board maintains its stance, the public discourse suggests that the controversy surrounding the 2018 tour is far from settled.