Cummins Addresses Sandpaper Saga at Press Conference
The Australian captain spent an hour answering questions about former teammate Usman Khawaja's account of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Tennis
Live Poll
When public figures' accounts conflict, do you trust either side's version?
Australian Test captain Pat Cummins held an hour-long press conference fielding questions on the sandpaper cheating scandal. He responded to recollections from Usman Khawaja's book, saying they were nonsense and 100 per cent wrong.
Why it matters
The press conference revisits one of the most damaging episodes in Australian cricket, with the captain now addressing claims made by a former teammate in print. Cummins said he would speak about the saga for as long as required that day and never again, though he is likely to be asked about it again.
The press conference ran for one hour, with Cummins taking questions from the full press pack in a single sitting. The extraction does not confirm what Khawaja's book asserts in detail, leaving the scope of the dispute unresolved.
The players
Pat Cummins
Pat Cummins is the Australian Test captain who fronted the press conference and answered questions on the 2018 sandpaper scandal.
Usman Khawaja
Usman Khawaja is an Australian Test batter whose book contained recollections of the sandpaper cheating scandal that prompted Cummins' responses.
The details
Cummins stood and faced all questions from the waiting press pack. He addressed Khawaja's recollections, his claim that his background played a part in not being picked as interim captain when Smith was banned, and the broader history of ball-tampering in the game, including a bottle-cap used in a Sheffield Shield match to alter the ball and reports of sandpaper and super glue.
Timeline
12 November 2026: Cummins holds the one-hour press conference on the sandpaper saga.
Big Picture
The 2018 Cape Town sandpaper scandal, which led to bans for Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, continues to shape how Australian cricket discusses its integrity failures. Cummins' remarks revisit that episode as the team's leadership addresses ongoing questions about its legacy.
The sandpaper saga's continued discussion means fans and commentators are likely to keep revisiting the 2018 Cape Town episode during Australian Test coverage. The press conference reflects how the team's leadership is handling questions about its past integrity lapses.
The takeaway
Cummins' decision to address the saga in a single extended session signals an intent to close the topic for the team. Readers following Australian cricket can expect the matter to resurface whenever players write about or are questioned on the 2018 scandal.
Further reading
For more on the sporting landscape around this story, explore Tennis coverage.
Live Poll
When public figures' accounts conflict, do you trust either side's version?
