Former Australian batter Usman Khawaja has reignited the 2018 Sandpapergate controversy in his new autobiography, *Sabr*, alleging that the entire Australian Test squad was aware of ball-tampering during the Cape Town series. Khawaja claims the practice extended beyond the infamous third Test, asserting that sandpaper was used to alter the ball’s condition during the second match as well. These explosive revelations place immediate pressure on Mitchell Starc, who remains a central figure in the ongoing debate over accountability and team knowledge during the scandal.
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Mitchell Starc has firmly rejected Khawaja’s assertions, reiterating his stance from the 2021 joint statement released alongside Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon. The four fast bowlers previously denied knowing about sandpaper being taken onto the field or the ball being tampered with during the Cape Town Test. Starc’s defense relies on this collective denial, but the new evidence from a former teammate threatens to complicate the narrative and keep the spotlight on the Australian fast-bowling unit.
The personal fallout is evident, with Starc’s wife and former Australia women’s captain Alyssa Healy admitting she feels “slightly conflicted” about the renewed allegations. Speaking at the Kayo Sports and Fox Cricket launch event, Healy acknowledged the difficulty of supporting her husband while grappling with the serious nature of Khawaja’s claims. Her comments highlight the emotional toll the scandal continues to take on the players’ families and the broader Australian cricket community as the truth behind the 2018 incident remains contested.
Source: Yahoo Sports
