# David Warner accuses Cricket Australia of cover-up in 2018 sandpapergate

> David Warner claims Cricket Australia's 2018 ball-tampering investigation 'stinks of a cover-up'.
- Title: David Warner accuses Cricket Australia of cover-up in 2018…
- Summary: David Warner claims Cricket Australia's 2018 ball-tampering investigation 'stinks of a cover-up'.
- Keywords: cricket australia, david warner, sandpapergate, ball tampering, usman khawaja, pat cummins, mitchell starc, nathan lyon, steve smith, cameron bancroft, Sky Sports
- Source: Sky Sports — https://skysports.com/cricket/news/12040/13612120/sandpapergate-david-warner-claims-cricket-australias-investigation-into-2018-scandal-stinks-of-a-cover-up
- Published: 2026-11-14T07:54:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: cricket australia, david warner, sandpapergate, ball tampering, usman khawaja, pat cummins, mitchell starc, nathan lyon, steve smith, cameron bancroft, sports
## Warner criticises CA investigation
David Warner claims Cricket Australia did not interview three bowlers in their 2018 sandpapergate investigation.

> As far as I am aware, CA did not interview Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc or Nathan Lyon in their 2018 investigation
## Warner calls investigation shoddy
Warner says CA's probe 'stinks of a cover-up' and blames false narrative about bowlers' knowledge.

> It looks like they had decided who they wanted to blame from the very beginning, ran a shoddy investigation to serve the purpose and now they want to maintain the false narrative that the bowlers had no idea
## Khawaja's autobiography claims
Usman Khawaja states the entire Australian team knew about sandpaper use in 2018 Test against South Africa.

> the entire Australian team knew sandpaper was being used to alter the ball before their Test against South Africa in Cape Town in 2018
## CA's position on investigation
Cricket Australia CEO says they will not reopen the 2018 sandpapergate investigation.

> We don't see any compelling reason to open the investigation or revisit this again
## Cummins denies knowledge
Pat Cummins says he has never known about sandpaper use in 2018 ball-tampering scandal.

> When he [Khawaja] says we all knew, if by that he means that we knew sandpaper was going out in the field, he's 100 per cent wrong
## Warner criticises Cummins
Warner accuses Cummins of throwing Khawaja under the bus after his denial of knowledge.

> Pat Cummins was very well-prepared this morning. I still stick by Uzzie, and what he's written in that book
## Consequences for players
Three players received bans while others faced suspensions after 2018 sandpapergate.

> Warner, though, hit back at the Australian Test captain's comments, saying he had 'thrown Khawaja under a bus'
## Personal impact on Warner
Warner says his wife and child suffered during the 2018 sandpapergate period.

> My wife and I paid the greatest price; we lost a baby during that time
## CA's final stance
Cricket Australia confirms they will not revisit 2018 sandpapergate investigation findings.

> There's absolutely no benefit in going back, that's the clear position of the CA board
## Key takeaway

David Warner says Cricket Australia did not interview three bowlers in their 2018 sandpapergate investigation, calling it a shoddy cover-up.