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Usman Khawaja and Pat Cummins (Source: AFP)
Former Australian fast bowler Chadd Sayers has supported Usman Khawaja's claims about the 2018 ball-tampering scandal. He said that he believes the entire Australian team knew that sandpaper was being used to change the condition of the ball during the series.
His comments have added fresh pressure on Australia captain Pat Cummins, who recently rejected Khawaja’s allegations and described them as "utter nonsense".
It is worth noting that former Australian fast bowler Chadd Sayers was part of Australia’s squad during the controversial tour. He was the 12th man in Cape Town and played his only Test in the final match against South Africa in Johannesburg.
Chadd Sayers Recalls Sandpaper Incident And Team Meeting
Speaking on SEN radio on Sunday, Chadd Sayers shared his memories of the incident and said players had discussed ways to make the ball reverse swing. The former fast bowler said he first became aware of the sandpaper during the second Test in Port Elizabeth.
He also claimed there were discussions in the dressing room about how the team could get the ball to reverse swing and what could be used for that purpose.
Sayers also revealed that he was given the sandpaper to remove from the field after Cameron Bancroft was involved in the incident.
According to Sayers, he was carrying drinks onto the field when the sandpaper was passed to him, apparently by Bancroft. He said he took it away and kept it out of sight but could not remember exactly what happened to it afterwards.
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“I’m comfortable sitting here right now and where I stand on the situation that I believe that everyone in that side knew what was going on and what was being used,” Sayers said on SEN.
“I’m just trying to tell my side of the story and what I believe happened. It was used in two Test matches and there were discussions in change rooms of how we were going to get the ball to reverse and what was going to be used,” Chadd Sayers said.
“(But) I just know that there was numerous conversations of it around in the change rooms,” he said. “I don’t recollect (whose idea it was), but obviously David Warner was not going to do it. Cam Bancroft stepped in and said he would.”
“I just knew that it was going to be used as I believe everyone else did." Chadd Sayers added.
Chadd Sayers Supports Usman Khawaja's Claims
Sayers also supported Usman Khawaja's account of two Australian players opposing the idea of taking collective responsibility for the ball-tampering incident. However, he refused to reveal their names, saying players were likely worried about their positions in the team and possible punishments.
“Vaguely. As I said, eight years ago is a long time and there’s a lot of things to take in on that day, but I vaguely remember two players, yeah,” Chadd Sayers said.
“I’m not going to mention names, no ... (but) I think obviously players are probably concerned about their own spot in the Australian cricket side.
"There was a lot, as I said, a young demographic at the time. Probably not the most experienced batting unit going around and probably one that was not cemented either.
“We didn’t know the severity or the punishments that were to come.”
Meanwhile, Pat Cummins has strongly rejected Usman Khawaja's claims that other players, including bowlers, knew about the plan.
