Marsh declines to revisit 2018 ball-tampering scandal

Australia’s one-day captain Mitchell Marsh declined to discuss his recollections of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal before the team’s opening ODI against England in Perth, saying he had moved on and was focused on the series. His comments came as Usman Khawaja’s allegations about how widely players knew of the plan renewed questions about the episode.

Marsh, who played on Australia’s 2018 South Africa tour, was asked whether he knew sandpaper was being used to alter the ball during the Cape Town Test. He said he respected that people had told their stories but was not there to share his own. He also declined to discuss a private phone call with Khawaja, saying it was his choice not to revisit the matter.

Marsh said he had not read Khawaja’s book, Sabr. He said the ODI series was an important week for the one-day team and that his focus was on preparing for the match. When asked whether Khawaja was lying, Marsh said he respected his former teammate for telling his story and writing the book, and did not want to judge him.

Khawaja has alleged that awareness of the plan to use sandpaper in Cape Town extended beyond the three players sanctioned at the time: captain Steve Smith,...