Ex-Australia Spinner Stuart MacGill Admits Using Sandpaper on Ball

Former Australian spinner Stuart MacGill has admitted to using sandpaper on the ball during his playing career, stating it was not a deliberate cheating strategy but rather a method to aid reverse swing. His confession comes in the wake of renewed scrutiny surrounding the 2018 "Sandpapergate" ball-tampering scandal, following revelations in Usman Khawaja's autobiography. Cricket Australia, however, maintains its stance that the wider team was unaware of any wrongdoing during the infamous Cape Town Test.

Khawaja's memoir has reignited debate about the extent of player knowledge regarding the 2018 incident, with former vice-captain David Warner supporting the claims that the entire touring party was aware of the ball-tampering plot. This contrasts with bowler Mitchell Starc's denial of prior knowledge. Despite these resurfacing allegations and calls from former captain Michael Clarke to reopen the investigation, Cricket Australia has stated there is no compelling reason to do so, reaffirming its satisfaction with the original inquiry's findings.

17 stories · 3 sources

Sources

  1. 'I'd tape it to my thumb': Ex-Australia star admits to using sandpaper after Usman Khawaja's revelations - WATCH — Yahoo Sports,
  2. Pat Cummins can end sandpaper saga with full disclosure of what players knew – not what they didn’t | Geoff Lemon — The Guardian Sports,
  3. 'Sandpaper took it to 'next level': AB de Villiers admits all teams tried to produce reverse swing but 'within the rules' — Yahoo Sports,
  4. Khawaja refuses to name Aussie ball tamperers — BBC Sport,
  5. Sandpapergate row: 'Not going to answer that' - Usman Khawaja cancels media interviews after Pat Cummins question — Yahoo Sports,
  6. Australia used sandpaper even before 2018? Former Aussie spinner Stuart Macgill reveals how he used to rough up balls during matches — Yahoo Sports,
  7. Usman Khawaja bunkers down as book tour ‘adjusted’ amid ball-tampering claims — The Guardian Sports,
  8. 'Couldn't agree more': David Warner and Stuart Broad's father call out Darren Lehmann's hypocrisy as Sandpapergate fallout continues — Yahoo Sports,
  9. Cricket Australia wants to move on from ball tampering saga but its equivocation has the opposite effect | Jonathan Horn — The Guardian Sports,
  10. ‘Australian fans have not moved on’: Michael Clarke joins Sandpapergate storm as pressure mounts on Cricket Australia — Yahoo Sports,
  11. Australia doomed to live with stench of sandpapergate — BBC Sport,
  12. Khawaja alleges racial abuse by MCC member — BBC Sport,
  13. Cricket Australia rules out reopening ‘Sandpapergate’ inquiry despite Khawaja claims — Yahoo Sports,
  14. 'No reason' to reopen sandpaper investigation — BBC Sport,
  15. 'Haven’t paid much attention': Mitchell Starc denies Usman Khawaja's allegation that bowlers were aware of sandpaper use in 2018 — Yahoo Sports,
  16. The saga that never goes away: wounds of Australian cricket reopened as ball tampering resurfaces | Jack Snape — The Guardian Sports,
  17. Cricket Australia rules out reopening ball tampering investigation in wake of Khawaja book claims — The Guardian Sports,
#cricket #sandpapergate #australia

Other digests