Warner accuses Cricket Australia of Sandpapergate cover-up over un-inter…
David Warner alleges Cricket Australia did not interview bowlers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon during the 2018 investigation, calling it a 'shoddy' cover-up. CA denies the claim, stating all players had the opportunity to speak.
Warner names Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon
In an Instagram post on Saturday, 14 November, the former Australia opener wrote that, as far as he is aware, Cricket Australia did not interview Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc or Nathan Lyon during the original probe.
"As far as I am aware, CA did not interview Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc or Nathan Lyon in their 2018 investigation. If that's correct, then how can CA push the idea that the bowlers didn't know?"
David Warner, via Instagram
He went further, questioning the intent behind the inquiry.
"It looks like they had decided who they wanted to blame from the very beginning, ran a shoddy investigation to serve the purpose, and now they want to maintain the false narrative that the bowlers had no idea. That stinks of a cover-up."
David Warner, via Instagram
Cricket Australia rejects the allegation
Cricket Australia responded on Saturday, stating that every player had been given the opportunity to speak at the time of the initial investigation and could come forward with new evidence in the eight years since.
"As we have stated previously, all players were given the opportunity to speak at the time of the initial investigation and could come forward with new evidence in the eight years since. Subsequently, CA has respected every player and former player's right to provide their own version of events."
Cricket Australia statement
Chief executive Todd Greenberg has said there is no compelling reason to reopen the investigation.
Khawaja autobiography reignites debate
The latest flare-up follows the release of Usman Khawaja's autobiography, Sabr. Khawaja claimed the entire Australian team knew about the use of sandpaper to alter the ball, challenging the long-maintained position that only a handful of players were involved. He also wrote that a ball-tampering episode had taken place in a Test before the Cape Town match.
Australia captain Pat Cummins addressed the allegations during a 68-minute press conference on Friday, 13 November, describing Khawaja's account as "complete and utter nonsense" and denying any prior incident. Cummins acknowledged the dressing-room culture at the time was not ideal, admitting the players operated with a "win-at-all-costs" mentality.
Warner backs Khawaja, criticises Cummins
Hours after Cummins' press conference, Warner hit back at the current captain, accusing him of throwing Khawaja "under the bus" and expressing sympathy for his childhood friend.
"I still stick by Uzzie, and what he's written in that book... It is the truth, and I really, really support him. I actually feel for him at the moment; I feel that the captain today threw Uzzie under the bus, and I am very, very disappointed about that."
David Warner, via Instagram
Warner did not mention Cummins by name in his Saturday post, despite the current captain being part of the team during the Cape Town Test.
Bowling group maintains 2021 stance
In 2021, Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon issued a joint statement maintaining they had no knowledge of sandpaper being taken onto the field during the Cape Town Test. Starc reiterated that position on Tuesday at the launch of Australia's summer of cricket.
"I won't speak on behalf of the bowlers, but, from where I stand, my opinion hasn't changed, and my recollection hasn't changed from what we said in 2021. We weren't aware anything was taken on the field to be tampered with. We saw it on the big screen in Cape Town."
Mitchell Starc
Original sanctions and current context
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Incident | Cape Town Test, Australia vs South Africa, March 2018 |
| Players sanctioned | Steve Smith (12-month ban), David Warner (12-month ban, lifetime leadership ban), Cameron Bancroft (9-month ban) |
| Investigation findings | Warner devised the plan, Bancroft carried it out, Smith knew and failed to prevent it; bowling group found to have no knowledge |
| Khawaja's claims (2026) | Entire team knew; prior ball-tampering episode before Cape Town |
| Cummins' response (13 Nov 2026) | Claims "complete and utter nonsense"; admits "win-at-all-costs" culture |
| Warner's latest allegation (14 Nov 2026) | CA did not interview Starc, Hazlewood, Lyon; investigation "stinks of a cover-up" |
| CA response (14 Nov 2026) | All players given opportunity to speak; no intention to reopen investigation |
Warner's latest comments landed ahead of Australia's opening ODI of the summer against England, ensuring the Sandpapergate controversy remains a live issue eight years after the events in Cape Town.
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