Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins faced media questions for over an hour in Sydney on Friday morning relating to a new book by former Test cricketer Usman Khawaja on the 2018 South Africa Test series where the Australian team were found guilty of ball tampering by the use of sandpaper.
Khawaja makes two key points. Firstly that the whole team not just a few players knew about the sandpaper. Secondly that racism meant that Tim Paine rather than himself succeeded Steve Smith as captain.
Cummins whose assured performance surely marks him out for a role in public life post cricket backed the Cricket Australia line that only a few players knew about the sandpaper. He noted that the the changing rooms in the 2018 series had many rooms and conversations went on between several players rather than as a team (rather like the Traitors Castle it seems).
He did agree however that the culture of the Australian team at the time was an arrogant win at all costs one. He also agreed that while he did not believe that racism stopped Khawaja from being captain there were racist remarks in 2018.
He noted the human impact on players and their families of the issue being discussed again and hopefully Cricket Australia will remember it has a duty of care. He also said that Khawaja was a friend and while he did not agree with everything in the book legal action was not in prospect.
Interesting times, particularly for those who think sport and politics don’t mix
Having looked at the Australian reaction it seems to be that its Khawaja and Warner (who was the players union rep) against Cricket Australia and the rest of the team. My report above suggests that Cummins was prepared to admit arrogance and racist remarks while not deviating from the official line. If that does happen legal action and general chaos is likely. While that may help England who face Australia quite a bit in the next 12 months starting in 13th November, the impact on individuals should also be a real concern.
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