Former Australian cricketer David Warner has endorsed Usman Khawaja’s claim that knowledge of a plan to tamper with the ball during Australia’s 2018 Test tour of South Africa extended throughout the team. In a social media post on Monday, Warner supported his former teammate’s account and questioned the investigation that followed the incident.
The scandal involved an attempt to alter the ball’s surface with sandpaper during the third Test at Newlands in Cape Town. Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft received bans over the episode. Cricket Australia’s investigation concluded that those three players were the only people who had advance knowledge of the plan.
Speaking in a video on Instagram, Warner thanked Khawaja for coming forward and described the inquiry’s interview process as hurried and mishandled. He questioned why investigators had not interviewed Khawaja, saying his former teammate had been sitting beside Bancroft. Warner, who retired from international cricket in 2024, argued that the omission undermined the thoroughness of the investigation.
Khawaja’s account appeared in an extract from his autobiography released on Saturday. He said discussions about tampering had been open and lighthearted, extending across the team rather than being limited to batters, bowlers or staff. On Sunday, Khawaja explained that he had decided to address the scandal after promising Warner, a childhood friend, that he would eventually give his version of events.
Warner, 40, said he and Khawaja wanted accountability and transparency, with the truth properly examined. He said their purpose was not to assign blame or revive old grievances. He also argued that attention should turn towards those responsible for conducting the investigation, and said media accounts over the past eight years had included inaccuracies while many people had remained silent.
Cricket Australia has not commented on Warner’s latest statement. It defended its handling of the case in a statement on Saturday, saying it had properly considered all relevant information submitted and remained satisfied with the integrity process’s findings. The governing body also said the opportunity to provide further relevant information remained available.
The four Australian bowlers who played in the Cape Town Test, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon, jointly denied knowing about the plan in a statement issued in 2021. Cummins, now Australia’s Test captain, said last month that he had discussed the forthcoming autobiography with Khawaja. He dismissed suggestions that its publication could produce further fallout.
