Mitchell Starc returns to 2018 ball-tampering controversy after Khawaja’s explosive claims

Mitchell Starc has stood by his account of Australia’s infamous 2018 ball-tampering scandal after former teammate Usman Khawaja claimed every member of the team knew about a plan to tamper with the ball during the South Africa tour.

Khawaja’s allegations, detailed in his newly released book Sabr, reopened one of the most controversial episodes in Australian cricket. Former opener David Warner also backed up the claim on Monday night, drawing renewed attention to the events of the 2018 tour just as Australia prepare to kick off their domestic Test summer.

Starc became the first member of Australia’s current Test squad to publicly address the controversy at an event in Sydney on Tuesday. The left-arm fast bowler claimed that his recollection of the events had not changed since the year issued a joint statement alongside Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon in 2021.

“I thought we were here for the summer of cricket,” Starc said as questions turned to controversy.

He admitted that there were different reports about what happened during the South Africa tour, but reiterated that his position remained the same.

“Since then, we’ve been drilled hard through the whole process. I don’t think I’m going to speak for the pitchers now, but where I stand, my opinion hasn’t changed. My memories haven’t changed since what we said in 2021,” he said.

THE OLD MAN STAND FIRM

Khawaja’s claim that everyone in the Australian team knew about the ball-tampering plan contradicts the account held by the four front-line bowlers.

Asked specifically if everyone knew this, Starc said that the claims made in the book were to be explained by Khawaja.

“In terms of our statement, we were not aware of it being taken on the pitch. I’ll leave it at that,” he said.

Starc also denied knowing that sandpaper was used during the second Test against South Africa in Port Elizabeth. He claimed he first learned of the incident when footage of Cameron Bancroft hiding sandpaper in his trousers appeared on the stadium’s big screen during the third Test in Cape Town.

“We didn’t know it was taken on the field to be tampered with. We saw it on the big screen in Cape Town. As for the book, I haven’t read it and probably won’t, so it’s up to Usman to elaborate,” Starc said.

The 2021 statement, released after renewed questions about the pitchers’ involvement, categorically denied any prior knowledge of the plan. Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon said they only realized a foreign substance had entered the field when the images appeared on the big screen at Newlands.

The four bowlers also pointed out that umpires Nigel Llong and Richard Illingworth inspected the ball after the incident came to light but did not change it and found no visible damage.

While acknowledging that what happened was wrong and should never have happened, they called for an end to speculation about their involvement.

KHAWAJ’S CLAIMS

Khawaja’s revelations also brought the relationship between members of Australia’s 2018 squad under the spotlight. Starc revealed that he had not spoken to his former teammate in the previous days.

The fast bowler was curt when asked if he would speak to Khawaja again.

“It’s up to him,” Starc said.

Starc also spoke of the renewed focus on the scandal as Australia prepares for the start of another Test summer. He admitted that players and members of the support staff experienced the aftermath of the incident in Cape Town differently.

“It’s definitely disappointing,” he said.

The fast bowler also pointed to former head coach Darren Lehmann, who resigned following the scandal, as someone whose role in the events should not be overlooked.

With the first Test against New Zealand set to begin in Perth on December 9, Australia are gearing up for the next chapter in their international calendar. However, Khawaja’s book brought the events of the 2018 tour of South Africa back into the spotlight, with differing accounts from former teammates again highlighting the Cape Town controversy.

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