A significant new detail has surfaced in the 2018 Sandpaper-gate scandal, with former Australian bowling coach David Saker now accused of instructing Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft to conceal the use of sandpaper during a post-play press conference at Newlands, South Africa. The allegation, reported by the Sydney Morning Herald, adds a fresh dimension to one of Australian cricket's most damaging controversies, more than eight years after it unfolded.

What the Sydney Morning Herald Reported

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Saker reportedly 'urged Smith and Bancroft not to reveal the nature of the yellow object that had been taken onto the field at Newlands' before their media conference on the day the scandal broke. The newspaper further alleged that Saker repeatedly told both players, 'you can't say sandpaper,' ahead of the press conference.

Bancroft subsequently told reporters that the object had been tape — not sandpaper — and that he had been using it to lift pitch granules to rub on one side of the ball. It was only after Cricket Australia announced sanctions against Smith, Bancroft, and David Warner that the use of sandpaper was publicly confirmed. The report also noted that Bancroft and Smith had reportedly been advised by others not to lie before the presser.

Usman Khawaja's Memoir and the Unnamed Coach

The allegation against Saker stems from Usman Khawaja's memoir 'Sabr', in which Khawaja claimed that the entire Australian team was aware of the ball-tampering attempts and argued that Smith, Bancroft, and Warner should not have been punished alone. While Saker is not named in the memoir, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that he is the coach Khawaja repeatedly referred to.

In the memoir, Khawaja recounted an exchange during the lunch break before Bancroft was caught on camera: 'With a smile on his face, he said, 'Bangers, whatever you're doing, we need more of it. It's wet out there – we just need more of it'. Then I saw Bangers pick up a piece of sandpaper and put it in his pocket. The coach gave both me and Cameron a wry smile of satisfaction and walked away,' Khawaja wrote.

Khawaja also described the same unnamed coach addressing bowlers with an apparent instruction to manufacture reverse swing by any means: 'Guys, I don't care what happens, but Test cricketers are too good against the straight ball. We need to get the ball shifting when it gets old. I don't care what you have to do, or how, but we need to get it moving in the air. That's the only chance we have.'

Who Is David Saker

Saker, who was Australia's bowling coach at the time of the March 2018 Cape Town Test, reportedly signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with Cricket Australia after leaving the organisation in February 2019. He is also widely credited with helping mastermind England's drought-breaking Ashes series victory in Australia in 2010-11, and served as England's bowling coach for the 2013, 2023, and 2025-26 Ashes campaigns.

Cummins to Speak, Marsh Declines

Australia's Test and ODI captain Pat Cummins, who has drawn criticism for remaining publicly silent since Khawaja's memoir dropped its bombshell claims, is reportedly set to address the media on Friday in Sydney. His comments will be closely watched given the scale of the renewed controversy.

T20I captain Mitchell Marsh, however, has declined to comment on the ball-tampering claims, saying he has 'moved on' from the episode and does not want 'to go back to his recollections' from the time in South Africa. The contrasting responses from Australia's captains reflect the deep divisions the scandal continues to create within the cricketing community.

With Cummins set to break his silence and the original sanctions facing fresh scrutiny, the Sandpaper-gate saga appears far from settled.