‘Utter nonsense’: Cummins dismisses Khawaja claims

By Darren Walton in Sydney

Australian captain Pat Cummins insists he had no knowledge sandpaper was being used during the infamous 2018 Test series in South Africa.

Cummins on Friday spoke publicly for the first time since former long-time teammate Usman Khawaja claimed the entire team – not just Cameron Bancroft, David Warner and Steve Smith – knew about the plan to tamper with the ball in the third Test in Cape Town.

“When he says we all knew, if by that he means that we knew sandpaper was going out in the field, he’s 100 per cent wrong,” Cummins told reporters in Sydney.

“I’ve said that consistently for the last eight years. I did not know that was happening.

“But I think Usman actually says things that are actually far more serious than that. He says that I and others were architects of a scheme to ball tamper with sandpaper.

“That’s complete and utter nonsense.”

Australian captain Pat Cummins insists he had no knowledge sandpaper was being used during the infamous 2018 Test series in South Africa.

Cummins on Friday spoke publicly for the first time since former long-time teammate Usman Khawaja claimed the entire team – not just Cameron Bancroft, David Warner and Steve Smith – knew about the plan to tamper with the ball in the third Test in Cape Town.

“When he says we all knew, if by that he means that we knew sandpaper was going out in the field, he’s 100 per cent wrong,” Cummins told reporters in Sydney.

“I’ve said that consistently for the last eight years. I did not know that was happening.

“But I think Usman actually says things that are actually far more serious than that. He says that I and others were architects of a scheme to ball tamper with sandpaper.

“That’s complete and utter nonsense.”

A candid Cummins said he was prepared to answer questions “all day,”  but never wanted to discuss the topic ever again, saying he was deeply disappointed by Khawaja’s allegations.

“I was genuinely shocked this week when I found out that Usman admitted that he told Cam to be careful when using sandpaper,” he said.

“That’s not the Usman that I know. It’s not the Usman that I think has been part of a team that’s helped rebuild the Australian cricket culture over the last eight years.

“And the one that would have stopped that from happening there and then.

“Usman’s a friend, but friends aren’t casual with each other’s lives and reputations. In His book, Uzzy’s been casual with my life and the lives of many others, and I think Australian cricket.”

Cummins said he “100 per cent” supported the retired opener’s right to tell his story.

“I’m really glad that he feels like he can,” Cummins said. “But we have to be accountable for the things that we say and do.”

Cummins’ reaction to Khawaja’s explosive accusations came after all four bowlers from the Newlands Test – including fellow quicks Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood and spinner Nathan Lyon – issued a joint statement in 2021 denying knowledge that a foreign substance had been taken onto the field to doctor the ball.

Starc earlier this week said his recollection of events had not changed, while Australian one-day captain Mitchell Marsh on Thursday said he had “moved on” and was not willing to share his views on the saga.

Marsh played in the Cape Town Test before being elevated to the vice-captaincy alongside Hazlewood later in 2018 after axed captain Smith and leadership group member Warner copped 12-month bans.

Warner took to social media on Monday night to assert Khawaja’s dramatic relevations in his autobiography, Sabr, were 100 per cent correct.

Warner has also insinuated that Australia’s coach at the time, Darren Lehmann,  either knew or should have known.

Chadd Sayers, a back-up bowler on the 2018 tour who played his one and only Test in the final match of the series in Johannesburg, is the only player this week to support Khawaja and Warner’s claims.

“I believe in what Uzzy said,” Sayers told Fairfax newspapers, adding that, like Khawaja, he wasn’t interviewed during the CA investigation in South Africa.

CA remains adamant it will not reopen the investigation.