Cricket Australia reacts after Bancroft hints bowlers’ involvement in ball-tampering saga

Cameron Bancroft recently dug up one of the darkest episodes in Australian cricket by making a massive statement on the ball-tampering saga. Bancroft, who was banned for nine months for his involvement in the 2018 Cape Town Test controversy, hinted in an interview that Australian bowlers were aware that he’s is using sandpaper to rub the ball.

Bancroft indeed dropped a bombshell with his remarks and hence, Cricket Australia (CA) on Saturday said it is open to reinvestigate the Sandpaper Gate if there is anyone who has more knowledge about the matter. The Australian cricket body also added the investigation conducted at the time was detailed and satisfactory. However, they would still relook the issue if any new information is presented.

Cricket Australia ready to reinvestigate the matter

“CA has maintained all along that if anyone is in possession of new information in regards to the Cape Town Test of 2018, they should come forward and present it. The investigation conducted at the time was detailed and comprehensive. Since then, no one has presented new information to CA that casts doubt on the investigation’s findings,” a CA statement read.

For the unversed, Bancroft was caught using sandpaper to scruff up the ball during the fourth and last Test match of the series at Newlands. He later accepted the offence and was handed a nine-month ban. The then Australian captain Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner also accepted being involved in the episode, and unlike Bancroft, the duo faced a one-year suspension from international cricket.

Smith and Warner even lost their leadership roles but managed to make a successful return to international cricket. Bancroft also made a comeback to the Test team after serving the ban but failed to make a mark and was subsequently dropped. He last played for Australia in Ashes 2019.

Speaking of his infamous act, Bancroft said that he wanted validation from his teammates and ‘lost control’ of his values.

“What had become important to me was being liked, being well valued, feeling really important to my teammates. Like I was contributing something by using sandpaper on a cricket ball,” Bancroft had said to The Guardian this week.