Cricket Australia rules out new 2018 ball-tampering inquiry

Cricket Australia will not reopen its 2018 ball-tampering investigation, chief executive Todd Greenberg said, as conflicting accounts resurfaced after Usman Khawaja’s book described the Australian team as aware of the plan. Fast bowler Mitchell Starc reiterated that he and the other bowlers did not know sandpaper had been taken onto the field to alter the ball. Peter Collins, a key figure in an independent review of the scandal, urged the governing body to investigate further.

Khawaja’s book, Sabr, says the team knew of the plan to tamper with the ball during the 2018 tour of South Africa. David Warner has publicly endorsed Khawaja’s account. The claims contrast with the 2021 joint statement by Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, which denied prior knowledge of sandpaper being taken onto the field.

Speaking at an event in Sydney, Starc said his recollection had not changed. He said he and the other bowlers first became aware of the sandpaper when footage was shown on the big screen in Cape Town. Starc also said Khawaja’s account was the author’s to explain and that he had not read the book.

Khawaja declined to say whether Cummins knew sandpaper was being used,...