Bancroft exposes Warner as ‘sandpaper’ architect

DAVID Warner has been thrown under the bus after stunning revelations from teammates about his role in the South African ball-tampering scandal in March.

In an exclusive interview with Adam Gilchrist for Fox Cricket, Cameron Bancroft confirmed Warner, who is serving a 12-month ban for his part in the sorry affair, along with former captain Steve Smith, was the mastermind.

“Dave (Warner) suggested to me to carry the action out on the ball given the situation we were in the game and I didn’t know any better,” Bancroft said.

It is understood Cricket Australia went into panic mode yesterday morning when the details of Bancroft’s Fox interview were released.

Warner’s role as the architect of “Sandpapergate” has been reinforced by Bancroft and Smith.

But many remain sceptical only three men in the dressing room knew of the tampering.

Bancroft explained his motivation.

“I valued fitting in … you hope that fitting in earns you respect and with that, I guess, there came a pretty big cost for the mistake,” he said.

Warner is yet to tell his side of the story properly.

CA’s investigation, conducted by then integrity officer Iain Roy, interviewed only a selection of the touring party.

It is understood it focused only on the events of day three of the Cape Town Test, and not examine if ball-tampering occurred in previous Tests.

CA chief executive Kevin Roberts denied Warner had been left out in the cold by Smith and Bancroft.

“The events of Cape Town were investigated and dealt with some nine months ago now, so there’s no new news there,” Roberts said yesterday.

“What’s important at this point is we work with the players and with the leaders of the team on the reintegration of the sanctioned players when they become eligible for selection.”

Kerry O’Keeffe said on Fox Cricket yesterday: “The thing is the dark cloud from that day still hangs over this team.

“The more and more we’re finding out about the actual events, (it) will chip away at that cloud and eventually that cloud will go ... and what will David Warner says will help lift that cloud.”