Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Nathan Lyon, the four Australian bowlers who played in that infamous Newlands Test of 2017/18, have released a joint statement on Tuesday. They have claimed that they were unaware of the ball-tampering ploy after Cameron Bancroft’s recent comments have fueled up the controversy.
In his recent interview with The Guardian, Bancroft made a startling revelation that the bowlers were aware of the tactics.
Starc has put out the statement on his personal website, with the consent of Cummins, Hazlewood and Lyon. As per the statement, they were not aware of the attempt to deteriorate the ball until they saw it on the big screen at the venue.
Starc’s statement also pointed out that Richard Illingworth and Nigel Long, the on-field umpires did not notice any change to the ball either, despite repeated inspections. The players signed off the statement with an appeal to end the ‘rumour-mongering and innuendo'.
Bancroft was caught on the camera while scrubbing the ball with sandpaper on Day 3 of the third Test in Cape Town. Later, he, along with captain Steven Smith and vice-captain David Warner, was handed a yearlong ban from all cricketing activities.
Bancroft is currently a part of the Durham squad for the County Championship 2021, while both Warner and Smith have been named in a 23-man preliminary squad for the upcoming West Indies tour.