Warner backs Khawaja's claim that all 18 Australians knew of 2018 tampering

David Warner has publicly backed Usman Khawaja's assertion that the entire Australian cricket squad, not just three players, knew about the ball-tampering incident in South Africa in 2018. The former Test captain called Khawaja's account of the events at Newlands '100 per cent accurate' in a social media post published on November 8. This response came one day after Khawaja, a 39-year-old recently retired from the national team, revealed the details in his autobiography, 'Sabr: Finding My Way in Cricket and Life.'

Khawaja stated that the knowledge of using sandpaper to alter the ball extended to all 18 members of the touring party. 'It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us,' Khawaja wrote. He said he promised to speak out to both Steve Smith and Warner before releasing the book. Smith, who served as captain during the 2018 tour, and Warner, the vice-captain, both accepted one-year suspensions. Cameron Bancroft, who was 23 at the time, received a nine-month ban.

The 2018 incident occurred during the third Test match of a four-match series in Cape Town. The Australian team was found to have illegally roughed up the ball. The aftermath dominated Australian media for weeks and remained a point of contention for rival teams for eight years. Warner, now 40, retired from Test cricket in January 2024. Smith and Bancroft also faced long-term reputational damage, with Bancroft making only a brief return to the Test side after his suspension.

Warner addressed critics who questioned why Khawaja waited eight years to speak out. Warner said the delay was not a strategy to boost book sales before the holiday season. 'This is Usman's story, this is what Usman believes, Uzzie wrote down every single thing from that day on,' Warner wrote. He criticized the original investigation as 'rushed and botched.' Warner noted that Khawaja was sitting next to Bancroft during the match but was not interviewed by the authorities.

Warner said he had to explain the incident to his daughters, including his 12-year-old, Ivy, who asked why the team members were crying on television. Warner told his children to tell the truth because lies eventually come out. He described the past eight years as a time of silence from many people involved in the game. Warner argued that it is time to scrutinize those responsible for the investigation rather than the person asking for accountability.

Khawaja defended the timing of his revelation in a two-part video posted on Instagram. He said he did not want to throw anyone under the bus. 'The guys that are currently in the team right now and the other people that were there on the South African tour, including me, we're not the victims,' Khawaja said. He identified Smith and Bancroft as the victims who took the blame for the entire group while facing public humiliation.

Darren Lehmann, the head coach of the Australian team in 2018, disputed Khawaja's claim that everyone knew about the specific plan. Lehmann was cleared of wrongdoing in the original inquiry. Speaking to ABC Sport this week, Lehmann said he does not think everyone would have known to that extent. 'You do know ball tampering is going on because it's been happening for 150 years,' Lehmann said. He added that while the practice was common, the specific method used in Cape Town required specific knowledge.

The four Australian bowlers involved in the match, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon, have repeatedly denied awareness of the tampering plans. They have maintained similar positions since the incident. The new disclosures have reignited debate about the fairness of the original sanctions and the conduct of the investigation eight years later.