Oz bowlers deny knowledge of 2018 ball-tampering plot
SYDNEY: Cameron Bancroft backtracked after dropping hints of other bowlers’ involvement in the 2018 ball-tampering scandal while the men in question, including top pacer Pat Cummins, claimed innocence and pleaded for an end to “rumourmongering and innuendo” surrounding the incident that tarred Australia’s cricketing reputation.
Bancroft kicked up a storm when he said it was “pretty self explanatory” when asked whether other bowlers in the team knew of the plan to use a sandpaper on the ball during the Cape Town Test in 2018.
On Tuesday, a Sydney Morning Herald report, quoting sources familiar with the situation, stated Bancroft had no fresh information to give to Cricket Australia’s integrity unit, which contacted him. CA had offered a reinvestigation after Bancroft’s interview.
The men who were caught in the storm triggered by his statement were Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon, who were all part of the team during the series. They issued a joint statement to deny any knowledge of the illegal plot.
“Bancroft, who is playing county cricket in the UK, had responded overnight on Monday in a conciliatory manner and indicated that he did not have significant new information to share with CA,” the ‘Sydney Morning Herald’ report stated. “Bancroft is said to have told CA he is supportive of the investigation and satisfied with the outcome,” it added.
The Australian bowling attack in the Cape Town Test also comprised all-rounder Mitchell Marsh. According to the report, Bancroft also reached out to the affected bowlers in order to explain his recent comments. “...Bancroft had claimed he was left flustered by the unexpected line of questioning and that there was no malice behind his remarks.” The joint statement issued by Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon sought closure.
“We pride ourselves on our honesty. So it’s been disappointing to see that our integrity has been questioned by some journalists and past players in recent days in regard to the Cape Town Test of 2018,” the statement read.