‘My Recollection Hasn’t Changed’: Mitchell Starc Responds to Usman Khawaja’s Sandpapergate Comments

Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc has stood by his previous account of the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal after former teammate Usman Khawaja claimed that the entire Australian team was aware of the ball-tampering conspiracy. Starc said his recollection of the incident remains unchanged, referring to a joint statement issued by Australia’s senior bowlers in 2021 denying prior knowledge of the plan.

Khawaja’s upcoming book has reopened discussions about one of the most controversial episodes in Australian Cricket history. The former opener argued that Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were made scapegoats by cricket administrators, despite his belief that the wider team knew about the plan to use sandpaper to alter the ball during the Cape Town Test against South Africa in 2018.

Starc, however, has maintained that he and several other senior bowlers were not aware of what was happening on the field. His response has added another dimension to the renewed debate over responsibility and accountability surrounding the scandal.

Mitchell Starc stands by his 2021 statement on Sandpapergate

Responding to Khawaja’s comments, Starc made it clear that his position has not changed since he addressed the controversy alongside Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon in 2021.

The Australian fast bowler avoided speaking on behalf of the entire bowling group but reiterated that his personal recollection remains consistent with the earlier statement.

“…I guess I won’t speak on behalf of the bowlers but where I stand, my opinion hasn’t changed, my recollection hasn’t changed from what we said in 2021,” Starc said.

Starc was referring to the joint statement in which he, Cummins, Hazlewood and Lyon denied having prior knowledge of the plan to tamper with the ball.

He also suggested that Khawaja would need to explain the claims made in his book, rather than Starc attempting to respond to every detail of the account.

“That’s obviously in a book. That’s for someone to explain further. As far as our statement said in 2021, we weren’t aware of things being taken on the field. That’s what we will leave it for. I haven’t really paid much attention to be fair,” he added.

Starc’s comments reinforce the position he previously presented regarding his knowledge of the incident. While Khawaja has questioned whether responsibility was fairly distributed, Starc has chosen to stand by the account given by the four bowlers.

Usman Khawaja claims the entire Australian team knew about the conspiracy

In his soon-to-be-released book, Khawaja revisited the events of the 2018 Cape Town Test and questioned the way the scandal was handled by Australian cricket administrators.

He claimed that the entire Australian team was aware of the plan to use sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball, even though only three players ultimately received punishment for their involvement.

The three players at the centre of the controversy were then-captain Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and opening batter Cameron Bancroft.

Smith and Warner each received one-year suspensions from playing cricket, along with leadership bans imposed by Cricket Australia. Bancroft was also punished for his role in the incident.

Khawaja’s argument is that the consequences were concentrated on those three players while the wider team was not held accountable in the same way. His comments have therefore reopened questions about how much the squad knew and whether the disciplinary response adequately reflected the full extent of the incident.

However, Starc’s response shows that the former teammates continue to have differing accounts of what happened and who knew about the plan.

David Warner publicly supports Usman Khawaja’s claims

Former Australia vice-captain David Warner has publicly backed Khawaja following the renewed discussion. Warner shared a video on Monday expressing support for his former teammate and arguing that speaking about the scandal should not be dismissed as an attempt to reopen old disputes.

In the caption accompanying the video, Warner said that the issue was about acknowledging unresolved questions and accountability rather than holding grudges.

“This isn’t about reopening old wounds. It’s about acknowledging that some wounds never properly healed. I stand with my brother Usman Khawaja. Speaking your truth takes courage, especially when people would rather you stay silent. Time passing doesn’t replace accountability, and asking questions shouldn’t be mistaken for holding grudges. Respect, honesty and accountability. That’s all anyone can ask for,” Warner wrote.

Warner also addressed the eight-year gap since the scandal and explained why he believed Khawaja deserved support for sharing his perspective.

“It’s been eight years since I’ve spoken on this topic. And Uzzie (Usman Khawaja), I throw my full support behind you. I thank you for what you’ve done. It’s 100% accurate what you’ve said. Now everyone knows the truth. It’s out there. People wanted to know it; you’ve come out and said it, and now people are saying, ‘Why eight years on?’ Talking about selling a book this is Usman’s story. This is what Usman believes,” Warner said in the video.

Warner’s support is significant because he was one of the three players punished following the Cape Town incident. His comments indicate that he agrees with Khawaja’s broader account and believes the former opener should be able to share his perspective without facing criticism simply because the events took place years ago.

Why the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal remains controversial

The 2018 Sandpapergate scandal remains one of the most damaging controversies in Australian cricket. During the Cape Town Test against South Africa, Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera using sandpaper in an attempt to alter the ball’s condition.

The incident led to major disciplinary consequences for Smith, Warner and Bancroft, including suspensions and leadership sanctions for Smith and Warner. It also raised serious questions about the culture and accountability within the Australian team at the time.

Although the three players received formal punishment, discussions about the knowledge and involvement of other members of the squad have continued over the years. Khawaja’s upcoming book has brought those questions back into the spotlight, while Starc’s response demonstrates that not everyone shares his interpretation of events.

The contrasting positions also highlight why the controversy continues to attract attention. Khawaja and Warner have supported the argument that the wider circumstances deserve further discussion, whereas Starc has reiterated that the senior bowlers were unaware of the ball-tampering activity taking place on the field.

What happens next in the Sandpapergate debate?

Khawaja’s upcoming book is expected to provide more insight into his perspective on the scandal and the treatment of the players involved. Warner’s public endorsement has already added weight to the renewed discussion, while Starc has made it clear that he does not intend to change his account.

The disagreement is likely to keep the 2018 controversy in the headlines as more attention turns to Khawaja’s claims. However, the available statements reflect differing personal accounts rather than establishing that every member of the Australian team knew about the plan.

Final thoughts

Mitchell Starc has firmly maintained his position on the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal, insisting that his recollection has not changed since the joint statement issued with Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon in 2021.

Usman Khawaja, meanwhile, has argued that the entire Australian team was aware of the ball-tampering conspiracy and that Smith, Warner and Bancroft were made scapegoats. David Warner has publicly supported Khawaja’s account, calling for honesty and accountability.

With three former teammates expressing contrasting perspectives, the renewed debate shows that Sandpapergate remains an unresolved and sensitive chapter in Australian cricket history.