Former England cricketer and match referee
Speaking on Track Radio, Broad expressed disbelief that the head coach could have been oblivious to the actions of his players. He argued that if Lehmann was truly unaware, he was unfit for his position at the time, adding that the former coach escaped the situation without facing formal sanctions despite resigning from his post months after the incident came to light.
Broad Highlights Double Standards in Coaching Conduct
Broad drew a direct comparison between the 2018 scandal and Lehmann’s public criticism of his son, Stuart Broad, during the 2013 Ashes series. At that time, Lehmann had publicly attacked the England fast bowler for refusing to walk after edging a delivery, famously warning that his team would make the player cry during the subsequent tour of Australia. Broad contrasted this aggressive stance with the denial of knowledge regarding the sandpaper incident, stating that he remains angry at the lack of accountability shown by the former coach.
The 2018 controversy, which occurred during the third Test in Cape Town, saw Cameron Bancroft caught on camera using sandpaper to alter the ball. This led to one-year bans for then-captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner, while Bancroft received a nine-month suspension. In his book, Khawaja contends that the blame was unfairly shouldered by these three individuals, alleging that other team members were not interviewed by Cricket Australia despite having knowledge of the events.
New Allegations and Support for Broad’s Stance
Khawaja’s revelations extend beyond the Cape Town incident, with claims that sandpaper was utilized during the second Test in Gqeberha. Furthermore, he alleges that Australian players had previously attempted to manipulate the ball during the 2017-18 home Ashes series by lifting the quarter-seam to encourage reverse swing. Australia secured a victory in the third Test of that series in Perth by an innings, a result that proved pivotal in their campaign to regain the Ashes.
The criticism leveled by Chris Broad has found an unlikely supporter in David Warner, one of the players who served a lengthy suspension following the 2018 scandal. Warner publicly backed Broad’s assessment on social media, noting that it was difficult for him to agree with the former England player but that he felt compelled to do so given the circumstances.
