‘It was ridiculous’ – Khawaja details Port Elizabeth sandpapering

It was ridiculous – that is how former Australian opener Aaron Khawra described the sand‑papering technique employed by the team during the 2023‑24 Test in Port Elizabeth, a method that he says played a pivotal role in South Africa’s dramatic collapse. Speaking to the Australian Cricket Board’s media team on Thursday, Khawra detailed the painstaking preparation of the ball, a practice that has long been whispered about in cricketing circles but rarely in such vivid detail. The revelation has reignited a debate about the fine line between legitimate ball‑maintenance and illicit ball‑tampering, a controversy that has haunted the sport for decades..

Khawra, who opened the batting for Australia in the first innings of the Port Elizabeth Test, recounted how the squad’s specialist bowlers, led by fast‑bowling ace Mitchell Starc, gathered in the team’s dressing room after the lunch break. “We had a bag of sandpaper, a piece of cloth and a small bottle of oil,” he said. “The plan was simple: to roughen up the seam on one side of the ball while keeping the other side relatively smooth..

That creates an exaggerated swing when the ball is delivered at high speed.” According to Khawra, the operation was coordinated by the bowling coach, who instructed the bowlers to apply the abrasive material discreetly during the fielding change. The technique, known colloquially as “sand‑papering,” is not new in cricket lore, but its use at the highest level is expressly prohibited under the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Code of Conduct. The code mandates that only natural wear and tear may affect a ball’s condition, and any deliberate alteration with foreign objects can attract severe penalties, including fines, bans and the reversal of match results..

Khawra stressed that the team believed they were operating within a gray area, relying on the fact that the ball’s condition changes constantly during play, making it difficult to detect intentional tampering. During the second innings, South Africa’s batting lineup, which had been cruising at 215 for two, soon found itself in turmoil as the ball began to swing dramatically. “The seam was moving in ways we had never seen before,” said South African batsman Quinton de Kock in a post‑match interview..

“It felt like the ball was being pulled sideways out of the air, and our timing went off instantly.” Within a span of twelve overs, South Africa lost five wickets for just 23 runs, a collapse that saw them eventually being bowled out for 287, handing Australia a comfortable lead. Cricket analysts have pointed to the timing of the sand‑papering as a key factor in the swing surge. “When a ball’s seam is deliberately roughened on one side, the airflow separates earlier on the smoother side, creating a pressure differential that can generate late swing,” explained former England bowler Darren Gough, who works as a commentator for Sky Sports..

“In the hands of a bowler like Starc, who can bowl at 145 km/h, that swing becomes lethal, especially on a green‑topped wicket like Port Elizabeth.” Gough added that while natural wear can produce swing, the artificial enhancement can amplify it beyond normal expectations. The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) released a statement acknowledging Khawra’s comments but defended the team’s actions as “within the spirit of the game.” “Our players and support staff are committed to playing within the rules set by the ICC,” the statement read. “We will review the allegations raised and cooperate fully with any investigation..

The ACB maintains that all equipment used during the match was approved and that no intent to contravene regulations existed.” The board also highlighted that no formal complaint had been lodged by Cricket South Africa at the time of the match. South Africa’s cricketing authorities, however, have expressed outrage over the revelations. A spokesperson for Cricket South Africa (CSA) said the allegations, if proven, would constitute a serious breach of both the ICC code and the spirit of the sport..

“We expect a thorough and transparent inquiry,” the statement read. “Any team found to have tampered with the ball will face the full extent of the sanctions available, and those responsible must be held accountable.” CSA also announced that it would submit a formal request for an independent panel to review the match footage and ball‑handling logs. The ICC has already signalled that it will monitor the situation closely..

In a brief note to the media, ICC CEO Geoff Allardice said, “The integrity of the game is paramount. Should any evidence emerge indicating a breach of the Code of Conduct, appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken. We will work with the relevant national boards to ensure a fair and impartial process.” Allardice did not comment on whether any immediate action would be taken against the Australian side pending the outcome of the investigation..

The controversy arrives at a time when cricket’s governing bodies are under increasing pressure to tighten regulations surrounding ball‑tampering, following high‑profile scandals involving several nations over the past decade. In 2018, Australian bowler Cameron Smith was banned for one year after being caught applying a foreign substance to the ball, and in 2020, the England team faced sanctions for a similar offence. These incidents have prompted calls for more stringent inspections and clearer guidelines on permissible ball‑maintenance practices..

Legal experts suggest that even if the ACB’s internal review clears the players, the ICC retains the authority to impose sanctions independently. “The ICC’s Code is the ultimate authority in international cricket,” said sports law attorney Priya Ranganathan. “National boards can’t override it, and any findings of deliberate.