117:Cricket Australia reopens investigation on 'Sandpaper Gate'
Cricket Australia (CA) have notably reopened the investigation of the controversial 'Sandpaper Gate' incident that took place in March 2018. The move has been taken on the back of Cameron Bancroft hinting towards a shocking revelation that even the Australian bowlers were aware about the usage of sandpaper during the Test at Johannesburg. The governing body had already made it very clear that they are ready to open the case if any player has any new details to share with them.
We are waiting for a reply: CA's Integrity Team
It is being reported now that Cricket Australia's Integrity team has reached out to the Aussie batsman on Monday to get any new details about the case. "The Integrity Team has reached out to Cameron Bancroft today to see if he has some new information on the issue. We are waiting for a reply from his side. He is in the UK currently so it's still pretty early there, " said a CA source as quoted by ANI.
Also Read: Bancroft opens up on the ‘Sandpaper Gate’
It will be really intriguing to see how the events unfold from here on because the players in question could involve some big names like Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon, who were the Aussie bowlers in that match against South Africa.
Andrew Flintoff and Aakash Chopra give their opinion on the fiasco
Former England cricketer Andrew Flintoff also opined that it is very clear that all Australian players, especially the bowlers would have known that the ball had been tampered with. "To say that a bowler has got ball in his hands - or anyone else on the field - does not know that this ball is tampered with is absolute nonsense, " Flintoff had said on BBC 5 Live Sport. The 43-year-old also added that it is difficult for him to believe that Mitchell Starc, who was the leader of the attack, didn't know about the same.
On the other hand, former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra also believed that Bancroft is speaking the truth. “Actually, I am with Cameron Bancroft. He has not said it, it is ‘self-explanatory’ that everyone knew it. At least, definitely, the bowlers knew for sure that when the ball came in the hand it has been scratched more and the wear and tear are not looking natural,” said Chopra on his YouTube channel.