As the infamous 2018 ball-tampering scandal has once again become a talking point in the cricket world, David Warner's manager James Erskine slammed Cricket Australia (CA) for handling the Sandpaper Gate episode badly, saying the investigation done three years ago was a “joke”.
In March 2018, Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera trying to change the condition of the ball using sandpaper in a Test match against South Africa in Cape Town. Later, CA had banned Steve Smith and Warner for a year while Bancroft for the nine months for their role in the infamous ball-tampering saga.
Recently, Bancroft created a fresh storm in Australian cricket by hinting that more than three people him, Smith, and Warner were aware of the Sandpaper Gate scandal, especially the bowlers.
Following Bancroft’s comments, Warner’s manager has revealed that not all the players involved in the Cape Town Test 2018 were interviewed by CA at the time while saying the three were treated despicably by the Australian board, saying they would have legally won if they had taken legal action.
Erskine told Sydney Morning Herald: “The report that was done, they didn't interview all the players. The whole thing was so badly handled, it was a joke. But eventually, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, will come out and I know the whole truth.”
CA has recently said it will re-investigate the incident but Warner’s managers Erskine said “it doesn't serve any purpose because the Australian public over a period of time got to dislike the Australian team because they didn't behave particularly well.”
He signed off, “There is absolutely no doubt that Smith, Warner, and Bancroft were treated despicably. The fact of the matter is they did the wrong thing but the punishment didn't fit the crime. I think if one or two of those players had taken legal action they would have won because of what the truth was.”
(With ANI Inputs)
