Move on: Gilchrist’s sandpaper plea for sake of cricket
Scott Bailey |
Adam Gilchrist has warned Australian cricket must move on from the Sandpapergate saga, with the drama overshadowing the start of the men’s summer.
The renewed fall-out from the 2018 ball-tampering scandal continues to dominate headlines just two days out from the first ODI against England, with all focus on Usman Khawaja’s book.
Cricket Australia has ruled out reopening the investigation into Cape Town 2018, with CEO Todd Greenberg warning a consensus between players will likely never be reached.
In the past week alone Khawaja has claimed that the whole team knew of plans to use sandpaper on the ball, and that it was also implemented in the Test prior at St George’s Park, Gqeberha.
David Warner has backed those claims, labelling CA’s initial investigation as “rushed and botched” after it found only he, Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith knew of the plan.
Mitchell Starc then denied any knowledge of the sandpaper plot when he became the first player from the match to front the media on Tuesday, citing a statement he and his fellow bowlers made in 2021.
Gilchrist said he was unsure what it could do to the Test team, ahead of a nine-month in which Australia host New Zealand then tour India and England.
But he was insistent the time had come to draw a line under the drama.
Asked what impact the flare-up could have, Gilchrist said: “I don’t know, we will have to wait and see,.
“I would suspect there are some frustrated guys because there are some differing stories floating around.
“But it’s up to them to work out. It’s probably best to work it out privately rather than in the public space.
“That’s up to them. There are some people who have been deeply affected in a tough way, so they will want to move on from it.”
Asked if it could hurt the Test team ahead of a home series against New Zealand in less than a month, Gilchrist insisted it was time to move on.
“If we keep getting daily Instagram updates it will keep bubbling away,” the former vice-captain said at Kayo Cricket’s summer launch event.
“Guys have had their say. We’ve just got to deal with it and move on.”
Gilchrist’s comments came as former teammate Mark Waugh backed CA’s stance of not reopening the investigation.
“We’re going in circles with someone saying this and someone saying the opposite. Are we ever going to get to the middle ground?” Waugh said.
“I don’t think we will. Because opinions are different. With someone saying this and someone saying that, you can only believe what they’re saying.
“Unless there’s other evidence, I don’t know where you go with it, so I think you’ve just got to move on.”
Australian Cricketers’ Association chief executive Paul Marsh also suggested on Tuesday it was understandable that each player’s version of events could be different.
“Eight years on, it is understandable that those involved may have different recollections and perspectives of what took place,” he said in a statement.
“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.
“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.”
AAP