Joe Root Addresses Australia's Ball-Tampering Controversy Ahead of ODI Series

As England gears up for an ODI series against Australia, captain Joe Root has chosen not to speculate on the renewed discussions surrounding the infamous 'Sandpapergate' scandal. With insights from Usman Khawaja's autobiography revealing collective responsibility among the Australian team, Root remains focused on his squad's upcoming matches. Meanwhile, Peter Handscomb, who was part of the 2018 squad, also refrained from commenting on the allegations. This article delves into the implications of these revelations and the players' perspectives as they prepare for the series.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 11, 2026, 20:15 IST

Joe Root Responds to Speculation

England's Test captain, Joe Root, has chosen not to engage in speculation regarding the recent discussions about Australia's 2018 'Sandpapergate' incident. He emphasized that he was not privy to the Australian dressing room dynamics and is concentrating on the upcoming ODI series, as reported by Cricinfo. The 'Sandpapergate' scandal involved ball-tampering by the Australian team during the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town. This led to significant penalties for then-captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner, both receiving one-year bans from competitive cricket, while Cameron Bancroft faced a nine-month ban from international and domestic play. The renewed focus on this issue comes after former Australian player Usman Khawaja made several claims in his autobiography, including that the Australian team had been manipulating the quarter seam during the 2017-18 Ashes series, suggesting that many teams were attempting to achieve reverse swing.

Root's Focus on Upcoming Matches

Ahead of the ODI series against Australia, Root reiterated his decision to avoid speculation about the ball-tampering allegations. He stated, "I wasn't in that [Australia] dressing room, I don't know what went on. I don't want to speculate. My focus is with this team right now and what we've got coming up." He acknowledged the ongoing discussions but maintained that the team's priority is the three-match series ahead. Root added, "I can only speak from my own experiences and that's not how I feel, no."

Khawaja's Claims in His Autobiography

In his autobiography 'Sabr', Khawaja asserted that the entire Australian team, including players and support staff, shared responsibility for the 2018 ball-tampering incident during the South Africa tour. He criticized Cricket Australia's findings, which only implicated Smith, Warner, and Bancroft, and expressed his hope that the truth would come to light after eight years. Khawaja emphasized that he wanted to ensure that the three players were not left to bear the blame alone.

Handscomb's Reluctance to Comment

Peter Handscomb, an Australian batter who was part of the squad during the 2018 Cape Town Test, also refrained from commenting on the new revelations. He stated, "I appreciate you have to ask these questions. I've had a nice day today, and it's not really something that I want to comment on right now. I'll sort of just let the powers of people do their thing." Handscomb highlighted the importance of moving on from off-field discussions, noting that everyone has their own way of dealing with such matters. He remarked, "In professional cricket, where you deal with a lot of noise, you do have to move on."

Handscomb's Experience During the Incident

During the 2018 Test, Handscomb was among the reserve players when Bancroft was caught on camera using sandpaper. He recalled that then-head coach Darren Lehmann had used a walkie-talkie to ask him to relay a message to the field for clarification on the situation. Recently, Handscomb scored an unbeaten 131 for Victoria against Western Australia on the first day of the ongoing Sheffield Shield match.