Australian Test captain Tim Paine on Wednesday (May 19) said that bowlers have ‘cleared the air’ with Cameron Bancroft and everyone’s looking forward to moving on.

The ball-tampering controversy has been taking over headlines for the past couple of days. 

Cameron Bancroft, who was caught using a piece of yellow sandpaper on the ball in the 2018 Newlands Test against South Africa, recently hinted that bowlers may have been in the loop about ball-tampering.

However Australian bowling quartet of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazelwood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon issued a joint statement and clarified that they had no one knowledge about the instance, calling for an end to, rumour-mongering and, innuendo.

Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc and Lyon issue joint statement; deny being aware about ball-tampering plot

Talking about the same, Australian Test captain Tim Paine said the bowlers were 'frustrated' after Bancroft's comments reignited the sandpaper gate saga. He added that they talked to Bancroft and 'cleared the air'.

“I think they’re frustrated that it keeps popping up but I think that’s part and parcel for everyone who played in that test match. Their mood was fine. 

“I think they’ve spoken to (Bancroft), cleared the air there and I think everyone’s looking forward to moving on. We’re all grown men and those guys have made contact with each other and sorted it out,” Tim Paine told reporters in Hobart. 

Tim Paine further said that Bancroft’s comments would not damage his chances of returning to the Test team as they select players based on how many runs they are scoring. 

“We don’t pick test teams on what they say in the media. We pick test teams on how many runs they’re scoring … and that certainly won’t be held against him,” he said. 

The Australian team will next be seen in action when they tour West Indies for a white-ball series in July.

(Reuters inputs)