‘No s***, Sherlock’: Michael Vaughan takes a brutal dig as Usman Khawaja reopens Australia’s ball-tampering scandal
Michael Vaughan mocks Australia after Usman after Khawaja’s revelation Former England captain Michael Vaughan has reacted sarcastically to fresh revelations surrounding Australia’s infamous 2018 ball-tampering scandal, suggesting Usman Khawaja’s claims of widespread knowledge within the team were hardly surprising.Khawaja reignited the “Sandpapergate” controversy through extracts from his forthcoming autobiography, claiming that ball-tampering discussions were more widespread during Australia’s 2018 tour of South Africa than Cricket Australia’s investigation showed.Taking to X, Vaughan explored the revelations and suggested that the latest claims only confirmed what many had suspected all along. He also questioned why the matter was being discussed again almost eight years after the scandal and urged everyone to move on.
Vaughan’s contribution
“So now we finally know the most hidden secret in the game… the whole Aussie team knew about the sandpaper… 8 years later it’s all out… screw you Sherlock… now we can move on…” Vaughan wrote.The controversy dates back to the third Test between Australia and South Africa in Cape Town in March 2018, when Cameron Bancroft was caught using sandpaper to roughen the ball. The incident sparked a major crisis for Australian cricket and resulted in lengthy suspensions for Steve Smith, David Warner and Bancroft.A Cricket Australia investigation at the time concluded that prior knowledge of the ball-tampering plan was limited to three players. Head coach Darren Lehmann was cleared of direct involvement, but resigned shortly after the series.However, Khawaja has now claimed that talks about roughening the ball, including the use of sandpaper, took place openly within the team.“It was all of us,” the former Australian batsman said in his autobiography, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.Khawaja, who was cleared of wrongdoing during the original investigation, also described the talks as “open, light-hearted discussions” and claimed awareness of the subject went beyond just the batsmen, bowlers or coaching staff.Cricket Australia stands by its original investigation and insists all relevant information presented to the governing body was considered. It also argued that individuals still have the option to provide any additional information.Australia captain Pat Cummins, who featured in the Cape Town Test, had earlier played down suggestions that Khawaja’s autobiography would trigger further fallout from the scandal.Australia and South Africa have since met again in a Test series, with the visitors returning to the country last month for the first time since the controversy in 2018. South Africa won the three-match series 2-1.
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