Former Australian Test captain Michael Clarke has called for the 2018 sandpaper scandal investigation to be reopened while criticizing current skipper Pat Cummins for his silence, Nine reported.
- Australia’s leadership group remains under public scrutiny ahead of the upcoming four-Test series against New Zealand starting in Perth on December 9.
- Media scrutiny intensifies around key squad members scheduled for upcoming press appearances in Sydney and Perth Stadium.
The controversy reignited when Usman Khawaja addressed the historical scandal over the weekend, prompting David Warner to add fuel to the fire. Clarke asserted on radio that Australian fans still cannot trust what is real.
“We haven’t moved on. Australian fans have not moved on. They can’t trust what’s real. They don’t know the truth – until this (investigation) gets reopened and the truth comes out,” Clarke said.
During the 2021 fallout from Cameron Bancroft’s comments to The Guardian, front-line bowlers Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon released a joint statement denying knowledge of the illegal use of a foreign substance. Clarke questioned whether everyone knew and whether similar tactics occurred before the Cape Town Test match.
Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg stated on radio that the governing body remains comfortable with the outcome of the 2018 probe. Greenberg confirmed that the investigation will not be reopened.
| Key Figure | Role / Context | Recent Development |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Clarke | Former Test Captain | Called for the 2018 investigation to be reopened |
| Pat Cummins | Current Test Captain | Faced criticism from Clarke over silence |
| Todd Greenberg | Cricket Australia CEO | Ruled out reopening the probe |
| Usman Khawaja | Test Batter | Reignited debate over the weekend |
Clarke emphasized that Cummins would not have assumed the captaincy if Sandpapergate had not stripped Steve Smith of the role and led to Tim Paine’s tenure. Greenberg maintained that the bowlers have remained consistent across the original investigation and subsequent 2021 statements.
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