The growing resentment festering in Australian cricket over the sandpaper scandal is showing no signs of fading, after David Warner whacked Darren Lehmann for downplaying his knowledge of the explosive 2018 events in South Africa.
Warner took to social media on Wednesday morning and agreed with former International Cricket Council match referee Chris Broad – the father of England great Stuart – that Lehmann shouldn’t have been Australia’s coach if he had no idea that sandpaper was being used in Newlands.
“Darren Lehmann surely knew all about it,” said Broad on Talk Radio, after Lehmann denied that “everyone” knew that sandpaper was being used during the infamous third Test between Australia and South Africa in Cape Town in 2018 on ABC radio.
“And if he didn’t, he shouldn’t have been the coach at the time.
“I think he’s got away lightly … OK, he left his job a few months later, but he didn’t get any sanctions.”
In his autobiography, Sabr , former Test batsman Usman Khawaja suggested the entire Australian team, including now captain Pat Cummins and other bowlers, knew about the plot to use sandpaper on the ball in the third Test in Cape Town eight years ago and the tactic had also been deployed in the previous Test.
Broad, who played 25 Tests for England, also said Lehmann had double standards during his term as Australia’s coach, saying he was “very angry” at his response to his son’s decision not to walk during a controversial Ashes Test in 2013.
“And there he was in 2013, taking the moral high ground against my son, where he played the Australian game of nicking the ball and waiting for the umpire to give him out, and he got given not out on that occasion, and then [Lehmann] came out in the media saying ‘we’re going to make him cry when he comes to Australia next,’” Broad continued.
“And here he is, the coach of the Australian cricket team that brought sandpaper out onto the field of play and denied any knowledge of this happening.
“I’m very angry at Darren Lehmann in this respect.”
Warner has since poured fuel on the fire, backing Broad.
“I couldn’t agree more and that’s hard for me to say!” he responded on X on Wednesday.
Lehmann refused to comment when contacted.
Warner’s provocative comments come just days after he backed Khawaja in saying everyone in Australia’s Test team knew ball-tampering was occurring. Warner, opener Cam Bancroft and then captain Steve Smith were the only people to be punished .
“It’s been eight years since I’ve spoken on this topic. And Uzzy, I throw my full support behind you. I thank you for what you’ve done,” Warner said on social media.
“It’s 100 per cent accurate what you’ve said. Now everyone knows the truth. It’s out there.”
On Tuesday, Australian spearhead Mitchell Starc repeated his denial of the sandpaper plot , citing a statement he and his fellow bowlers made in 2021.
“We [bowlers] weren’t aware anything was taken on to the field to be tampered with,” Starc said.
“We saw [the sandpaper] on the big screen in Cape Town.”
Asked why he and Khawaja had differing views, Starc responded: “That’s a question for him.
“I’ll stick to what I said ... at the time, eight years ago. Clearly, there’s different versions from different people.”
Starc also said he would leave it up Khawaja to reach out to him.
Australian Cricketers Association chief executive Paul Marsh said on Tuesday night it was understandable players’ versions of events could differ.
“Players and staff at the heart of the issue are entitled to share their experiences, just as others are entitled to put such a challenging period in their life behind them,” he said in a statement.
“There are no winners in this issue, and nothing can undo what happened.
“But we must recognise that there are humans in the centre of this and we are calling for the ongoing vitriol directed at those involved to come to an end.”
But Marsh’s statement attracted the ire of former Test batsman Damien Martyn, who posted on X: “This statement from our players union does not reflect all ex players’ opinions.”
Former captain Adam Gilchrist expressed his sadness that the saga had exploded back into the headlines, saying it was “time to roll on and more forward”.
The respected figure also expressed his concern for the mental health of several individuals who he says have “been deeply affected in a tough way”.
Former Australian batsman Mike Hussey agreed with Michael Vaughan that the scandal should not be reopened, but added he understood why some of the batsmen felt aggrieved.
“The penalty did not fit the crime. They should have been penalised, but I felt like it was harsh,” he said.
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