Former Australian batter Usman Khawaja‘s forthcoming autobiography has brought the 2018 ball-tampering scandal back into sharp focus, with fresh allegations about the involvement of multiple Australian players during the Test series against South Africa. The book, scheduled for publication on Tuesday, November 10, contains detailed accounts of how sandpaper came into play during the second Test at Gqeberha before the incident was captured on camera at Cape Town’s Newlands ground in the third Test.
Cameron Bancroft played for Western Australia in a one-day match against England at the WACA ground on Saturday, November 7, 2026, scoring 32 off 40 balls at the top of the order while claiming three catches in his team’s 92-run defeat. Beau Casson, Western Australia’s coach, addressed Bancroft’s approach to his cricket following the renewed scrutiny surrounding the ball-tampering affair.
“The situation’s a long time ago. I think he’s keen to move on and let his bat do the talking.
You can’t control everything. The way he’s handled it, over the past couple of weeks, and over the years gone by, it speaks volumes of the way he’s done that. He certainly sets the example of how to go about being a professional cricketer,” Casson was quoted as saying by Cricinfo.
How has Bancroft handled the renewed scrutiny?
Khawaja’s memoir reveals that Bancroft volunteered to use sandpaper during the first innings of the Gqeberha Test, where the ball swung significantly. According to Khawaja‘s account, the tactic had been discussed among the squad, with the understanding that umpires would drop the ball on the boundary as the team went out onto the field. When the idea was first raised, David Warner declined involvement, stating concerns about scrutiny, but Bancroft, early in his Test career and seeking to fit in, agreed to carry out the plan.
Cricket Australia’s investigation in 2018 concluded that only Bancroft, Steven Smith and David Warner were aware of the ball-tampering scheme. The organisation maintains it remains comfortable with those findings. However, Khawaja’s claims suggest a broader awareness within the squad than previously acknowledged.
Khawaja: I promised Warner I’d tell the truth
Bancroft gave an interview to the Guardian in 2021 in which he suggested that bowlers were aware of the ball-tampering activities. Following that interview, fast bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, along with spinner Nathan Lyon, issued a joint statement denying any knowledge of the tampering.
Smith and Warner have continued their international careers following the scandal, while Bancroft’s international involvement has been limited. He returned briefly for two matches during the 2019 Ashes tour but has not played international cricket since.
Despite his absence from the national setup, Bancroft was a prolific run-scorer for Western Australia, averaging 48.37 across Sheffield Shield titles between 2021 and 2024. In early 2024, when Smith trialled as an opener, Bancroft missed the opportunity to become Warner’s successor in the batting order.
