Former Australia coach Darren Lehmann claims ball tampering was once ever-present in international cricket, but denies Usman Khawaja’s claim of widespread knowledge of the 2018 sandpaper plot.
Lehmann was the coach of the Test team during the Cape Town controversy, in which Cameron Bancroft was caught using sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball during the match.
Bancroft, captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner were all suspended in the wake of the incident, while Lehmann stood down from his post.
In an interview with Nine newspapers on the eve of the release of his new book, Sabr, Khawaja claimed Cape Town was not the first time the Australian side had used sandpaper to tamper with the ball and that the plan had been known by “all of us”.
“Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us,” Khawaja told Nine newspapers.
Speaking to ABC Sport’s Summer Grandstand, Lehmann denied personal knowledge of the use of sandpaper and said he does not think all members of the Australian camp would have known about it either.
Lehmann did claim though that up until that day, “everyone around the world” was ball tampering.
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“I don’t think everyone would have known [about the use of sandpaper]. You do know ball tampering is going on because it’s been happening for 150 years,” Lehmann said.
“It’s just how it’s being done, and how you would know to that extent? That’s an individual case by case, to be fair.
“I can only speak to what I know, and I know ball tampering was a big part of the game of cricket. Now it is obsolete.
“That doesn’t make it right either, but that’s the case, and we paid a heavy price for that.”
Khawaja said he had suggested to the entire playing group after Bancroft had been caught that they take collective responsibility.
Lehmann, who is part of the ABC’s cricket commentary team and has recently joined the ABC Cricket Podcast as a co-host, said he could not confirm or deny that discussion took place, as he was not present.
Darren Lehmann stood down as Australian coach after Cape Town. (AP: Halden Krog)
“I don’t remember that. There were two change rooms obviously, and there were meetings going on everywhere. To be perfectly honest I was in meetings with Cricket Australia a lot,” Lehmann said.
“That could have been the case, I don’t know. I’m not saying yes or no to that one. There will be different points of view everywhere on this whole matter.”
Lehmann also said he was not aware of an alleged conversation between Bancroft and a member of the coaching team, which Khawaja said was important in the formation of the sandpaper plan.
Earlier on Saturday, a Cricket Australia (CA) spokesperson said they remained comfortable with the initial findings of their investigation.
“There has been a great deal of speculation in the eight years since the 2018 Cape Town Test, including extensive media coverage throughout last month’s series in South Africa,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
“During this time there has been the ongoing opportunity to present any relevant information, and this remains the case.
“All relevant information presented to CA to date has been properly considered and we remain comfortable with the findings of our integrity process.”
Lehmann said the 2018 incident left him in a “really dark place” and said the release of Khawaja’s book and its explosive accusations has brought up “bad memories” for him, the players and their families.
“End of the day, Cricket Australia had their findings. It was a really tough week, two weeks, at that time going through the process and talking to all the relevant parties,” he said.
“I was in a really dark place for a period of time where for four months I didn’t leave my house.
“Eight years after the fact and trying to sell a book is a bit different. That’s Usman’s choice and that’s the way he wants to go.
“For the families and the people involved, I feel for them right now because it’s taking them back to a really bad place. It’s been eight years. You get to a place where you move on, and I’ve moved on with my life.”
Darren Lehmann said the Cape Town affair left him “in a dark place”. (AP: Halden Krog)
Lehmann said Khawaja had not reached out to him in advance of these claims going public.
“For me it’s a really touchy one mentally, more than anything else, and I know the boys will be feeling that as well.
“Could he have said this at the time? I suppose that’s one of the things in the book. I mean, books are there to sell.
“He’s spoken to Pat Cummins apparently and the players. I haven’t spoken to Usman, he hasn’t texted me or rang me. That’s just the way it is.”
In 2021, Australia’s Test bowling quartet of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon released a statement denying any knowledge of the ball-tampering plan.
Speaking to SA Grandstand on Saturday morning, former Australian fast bowler and current South Australia coach Ryan Harris said he thought it was “a bit disappointing” that it had taken Khawaja “eight years to say that”.
“That’s probably all I want to say on that. Like most people, I’ve been interested to hear what the book is going to say.”
Jason Gillespie, another former Australian fast bowler, said he had always “found it a challenge to believe” only three players knew of the plan, but would not suggest everybody was across it and backed the testimony of the bowling group.
“This is what was interesting, the umpires at the time studied the ball and said they couldn’t see any evidence of ball tampering. That’s what I find fascinating.
“And that’s what the bowlers have come out and said, the actual umpires looked at the ball and found no evidence … of ball tampering.”
Source: www.abc.net.au
