Josh Hazlewood denies bowlers knew of ball-tampering plot, feels for players stood down in scandal
AUSTRALIAN quick Josh Hazlewood has described Australian cricket’s day of shame with the ball-tampering scandal as “pretty emotional” and denies he had any knowledge of the illegal practice.
Cricket
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
AUSTRALIAN quick Josh Hazlewood has described Australian cricket’s day of shame with the ball-tampering scandal as “pretty emotional” and denies he had any knowledge of the illegal practice.
Hazlewood said the fact the bowling unit usually fielded in the outfield and thus had little contact with the ball after each delivery meant they weren’t in a position to interfere with it.
LIVE Stream the England v Pakistan Test Series on FOX SPORTS. SIGN UP NOW >
Appearing on Back Page Live on Tuesday, Hazlewood was asked directly if he knew of the plot to illegally use sandpaper on the ball in the March Test series against South Africa.
“No, no,” he replied. “We obviously have ball maintenance people in the team, usually batsmen because they’re in the circle and the bowlers field fine leg, deep square — where ever it is. They just look after the ball from time to time. As soon as it stops swinging normal then it starts to reverse swing.
“We pretty much get it (the ball) at the stop of our mark, one second before we start running in. So we have a quick look, see which side’s a bit worn.”
Captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner were both suspended for a year while opener Cameron Bancroft was banned for nine months for their roles in the scandal.
Hazlewood said the whole team was in shock once the news broke in Australia and it became clear how huge the ramifications would be.
“It was pretty emotional straight afterwards, and then probably even more so the next morning after the news had hit Australia and everyone woke up in Australia to it,” Hazlewood said. “We woke up in South Africa the next day and it was pretty emotional and then obviously Stevie and Dave stepped down that morning — and yeah it was tough to get out there actually.”
Smith has revealed he spent the first four days after the scandal broke in perpetual floods of tears, but he recently appeared at a high school to talk about his experiences as part of the healing process.
Hazlewood has been in contact with his former captain and says he’s coping relatively well.
“I feel for the three of them, especially Steve being the skipper,” Hazlewood said. “He had to take the full brunt of it. But I’ve spoken to him a little bit since the incident and he seems to be doing better and better each time, so he looked good the other day at Knox Grammar talking to the kids. That’s a good way for him to express his feelings.”
The Test series against South Africa also signalled the end of Proteas champion AB de Villiers’ international career — and Hazlewood was quick to sing his praises as the greatest batsman he’s come up against.
“So far in my Test career, he’s No. 1, I’d say,” Hazlewood. “It’s probably the first time I’ve thought that even if I bowl well here I can’t get him out. I think a few of us thought that at different stages, especially in the first couple of Tests.
“I think we bowled better as the series went on. Just giving him absolute nothing, tying him down. He likes to score pretty freely, tie him down and wait for a mistake.”
Originally published as Josh Hazlewood denies bowlers knew of ball-tampering plot, feels for players stood down in scandal