The 2018 Australian ball tampering scandal remains a significant controversy in cricket history.
During the 2018 Test series against South Africa, Australia's cricket team was embroiled in a ball tampering scandal that has continued to evoke strong reactions years later. In his autobiography, former Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja challenged Cricket Australia's official position by suggesting that all team members were aware of the deliberate tampering. This claim was initially denied by current captain Pat Cummins but was later supported by Chadd Sayers, who served as the team's 12th man during the infamous match in Cape Town. Sayers expressed his belief that sandpaper was used collectively by the team to alter the ball's condition and create reverse swing, a move seen as controversial yet tactical.
Chad Sayers also criticized Pat Cummins's dismissive response to Khawaja’s statement, highlighting that the manner in which Cummins responded was unnecessary and intensified the debate. Further adding weight to these claims, former Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram supported Khawaja’s assertions by emphasizing that any experienced bowler can instantly detect if a ball has been tampered with. Akram’s perspective underscores the skill and awareness professional cricketers bring to the game, making such tampering difficult to conceal.