Former Australian batter David Warner has said Cricket Australia's 2018 investigation into the Newlands sandpaper scandal was a cover-up and was rushed and botched. He says the inquiry was predetermined and that bowlers Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood were not interviewed. Cricket Australia responds that all players had the chance to speak at the time and that players can still offer new evidence. Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has ruled out reopening the investigation. Usman Khawaja's autobiography has revived the dispute, and Pat Cummins, the current Test captain, says he was interviewed. Starc again denied prior knowledge of the incident.
Cricket Australia
4 stories since 3 November 2026, newest first
14 November 2026
10 November 2026
Mitchell Starc says he was unaware of sandpaper being taken onto the field during the 2018 Cape Town Test and repeats that his recollection has not changed since the 2021 bowlers' statement. Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg confirms there will be no fresh investigation. In his new autobiography, Usman Khawaja alleges the entire Australian squad knew about the ball‑tampering plan, a claim David Warner describes as completely accurate.
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has ruled out a further investigation into the 2018 ball-tampering affair in South Africa. Former opener David Warner backs Usman Khawaja, who says the team began tampering in the second Test in Gqeberha, not the third Test in Cape Town where they were caught. Khawaja's autobiography claims the whole squad knew of the sandpaper plot. Mitchell Starc denies advance knowledge. The original inquiry found only Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft culpable, and their penalties followed.
3 November 2026
Glenn Maxwell, 38, announced on Tuesday 3 Nov that he is retiring from international cricket, telling The Final Word podcast he will no longer represent Australia in T20 internationals. He had already left one-day cricket in 2025 and will also stop playing 50-over and four-day cricket for Victoria, plus red-ball cricket entirely. He will continue in franchise T20 leagues, including the Melbourne Stars in the upcoming Big Bash League season. His final Australia appearance was against Oman at the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka in February 2026.