‘No way’ Aussies guilty, says former test batsman

Former Australian test batsman Greg Blewett says sandpaper-gate has proven anything is possible in test cricket but insists there’s “absolutely no way” Australian players were guilty of match-fixing.

A criminal claims two unnamed Australian batsmen were paid to bat slowly during a period of play in last year’s drawn test match against India in Ranchi.

Blewett was with the squad as an assistant coach to Darren Lehmann and didn’t recall any irregularities.

“They were about 150 runs in front and had us under real pressure in the second innings and we hung on for a draw. If you said to me was any part of the game fixed, I would have said absolutely no way,” said Blewett. “In spot fixing, they are targeting a few runs off one over, so who knows? As far as I am concerned, there was nothing untoward in that game.”

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland maintains there is no credible evidence linking Australian players to corruption despite

It’s all allegations but Australian cricket doesn’t really need this now, that is for sure.

Greg Blewett

claims made in an Al Jazeera documentary against two players.

“It’s all allegations but Australian cricket doesn’t really need this now, that is for sure,” Blewett said.

Australia’s moral standing has been blemished by the ball tampering debacle in the March Cape Town test against South Africa.

Asked if the match fixing could have occurred as alleged in the Al Jazeera report, Blewett said: “Everything is possible, that is for sure.”

“If you had of told me last year that we would have produced some sandpaper in the middle of a test match, I would have said no way. Anything is possible but I would be very surprised.” he said.