Usman Khawaja has opened up about the controversial events during the 2018 Test series in South Africa, revealing insights into Australia’s use of sandpaper on the ball. In his new autobiography, “Sabr,” released on Tuesday, Khawaja delves into the infamous ball-tampering scandal, describing how South Africa’s collapse in the second Test at Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) was facilitated by the illicit practice of tampering with the ball.
Khawaja recalls a crucial session on the second day at St George’s Park where South Africa lost four wickets for just 28 runs. According to him, one of the bowlers remarked on how dramatically the ball was moving, saying it was “silly.” However, Khawaja refrains from singling out specific players involved, noting, “I’m not going to sit here and tell you what the bowlers saw or didn’t.”
The match began with South Africa on 153 for 2, with Dean Elgar and Hashim Amla forging a strong partnership. Khawaja recounts how the Australians struggled with reverse swing compared to their opponents, despite attempts at ball-tampering. Reflecting on the session, he noted, “We absolutely went through the South Africans,” as they took advantage of the condition of the ball post-break.
Khawaja provides a candid look into the dynamics within the team, recounting the atmosphere in the field. “Every time during the session the ball was passed to me at gully, I’d take a look and think, Wow, even I could reverse swing this ball… It was ridiculous.”
Despite their efforts, Australia couldn’t seize victory, as AB de Villiers’ masterful innings of 126 not out, coupled with South Africa’s effective reverse swing, steered the home team to a win. “In our second innings, their bowlers were reverse swinging it everywhere,” Khawaja admitted, acknowledging the opposition’s prowess.
The autobiography also touches on Khawaja’s desire to come clean about the ball-tampering before the final Test in Johannesburg. His attempts, however, were thwarted, with then-coach Darren Lehmann expressing concerns that revealing the truth might exacerbate the situation. According to Lehmann, “Uzzy, unfortunately, this affects everyone, mate, not just you.”
Khawaja gives further insights into the Australian team’s practices, describing how they manipulated the ball during the 2017-18 Ashes series. “We had worked out that, if we raised the flaps up on the quarter seam on that ball, it was almost like it had a rudder on it and it’d start reverse swinging,” he writes.
Reflecting on the broader context of ball-tampering in cricket, Khawaja adds, “The whole world was doing whatever little they could to try and reverse swing the ball.”
Usman Khawaja’s revelations in “Sabr” offer a frank account of one of cricket’s most notorious controversies, providing an insider’s perspective while acknowledging the collective responsibility within the team.
