Cameron Bancroft implies Australia’s bowlers had knowledge of ball tampering

Cameron Bancroft has spectacularly picked off the scab of the ball tampering scandal suggesting Australia’s bowlers have a case to answer.

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – AUGUST 02: David Warner, Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith of Australia look on as the England supporters sing songs related to their ball tampering ban during day two of the 1st Specsavers Ashes Test between England and Australia at Edgbaston at Edgbaston on August 02, 2019 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Cricket Australia has defended the thoroughness of its ball tampering investigation after explosive claims from batsman Cameron Bancroft that Australian bowlers may have known about the plan.

Bancroft was banned for nine months after being caught using sandpaper on the ball during the Cape Town Test in 2018.

A hastily convened inquiry at the time laid the blame at the feet of David Warner, Steve Smith and the opener but the question of who else knew was left hanging provocatively in the air.

(L-R) David Warner, Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith cop abuse from England supporters over their role in the ball tampering scandal. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Warner and Smith were both stripped of their leadership roles — Warner for life and Smith for two years — and banned for 12 months.

People have often speculated on who else was involved.

The umpires examined the ball at the time and concluded there was so little damage it didn’t warrant replacing.

In an interview with Donald McRae of the UK Guardian, Bancroft — who is playing County cricket — appears to indicate the bowlers knew.

Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh and Nathan Lyon bowled in the game.

An emotional Steve Smith is comforted by his father Peter as he fronts the media at Sydney International Airport following investigations into the ball tampering in South Africa. Picture: Brook Mitchell/Getty Images

“At least some of the bowlers, surely, knew what he was doing?” McRare writes that he asked the Australian.

“There is a long pause before Bancroft answers:

“Yeah, look, all I wanted to do was to be responsible and accountable for my own actions and part. Yeah, obviously what I did benefits bowlers and the awareness around that, probably, is self-explanatory. I guess one thing I learnt through the journey and being responsible is that’s where the buck stops [with Bancroft himself]. Had I had better awareness I would have made a much better decision.”

“I ask the question again. So some of the bowlers did know?

“Bancroft’s hesitation is even longer. “Uh … yeah, look, I think, yeah, I think it’s pretty probably self-explanatory.”

A Cricket Australia spokesman said: “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.

Australian bowler Josh Hazlewood (left) claims he and fellow fast bowler Mitchell Starc had no knowledge of the ball tampering. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

“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.’’

Hazlewood and the bowlers have always denied any knowledge.

The quick told Fox Cricket in 2018 they were unaware.

“We obviously have ball maintenance people in the team, usually batsmen because they are in the circle and the bowlers field at fine leg. They look after the ball from time to time and if it stops swinging, normally it starts to reverse swing. We pretty much get it at the top of our mark one second before we start running in. We have a quick look to see which side of the ball is more worn than the other,” Hazlewood said.

Other players have always maintained they were as shocked as anybody to see Bancroft with sandpaper and while they knew ball management took place they had never seen a foreign object used.