Starc stands by bowlers' 2021 statement on sandpaper scandal

Mitchell Starc, the Australian pacer, denied any knowledge of sandpaper being used by the bowling group during the 2018 tour of South Africa, which resulted in bans for skipper Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft. His defense comes following Usman Khawaja's revelation that everyone in the team was aware of the use of sandpaper on the ball, a claim backed by Warner as '100 percent accurate'.

Starc stated that he stands by the statement the Australian bowlers gave in 2021, in which they said, "We pride ourselves on our honesty... We did not know a foreign substance was taken onto the field to alter the condition of the ball until we saw the images on the big screen at Newlands."

On Tuesday (November 10), Starc reiterated his position on the incident. "I haven't really paid much attention to it [the coverage of Khawaja's claims]," Starc stated. "Obviously, there are different opinions to about eight years ago. We were heavily grilled through the process at the time and since. I won't speak on behalf of the bowlers, but where I stand, my opinion hasn't changed. My recollection hasn't changed from what we said in 2021."

Since the public revelation, Khawaja has had to cop some criticism from some quarters - for both, keeping his silence all these years as well as making the claims at a time when his book is set to be released. While the former opener has defended his delayed admission, when asked about his statements, Starc said, "It's obviously in a book. That's for someone to explain further. As far as our statement said [in 2021], we weren't aware of it being taken on the field. That's where I'll leave it."

"We weren't aware it was taken on the field to be tampered with. We saw it on the big screen [for the first time] in Cape Town. As far as the book's concerned, I haven't read it and probably won't read it, so that's for Usman to elaborate on."

Earlier on Tuesday, Cricket Australia's chief, Todd Greenberg, had said there wasn't enough compelling reason to restart the investigation on the incident, unless everyone held the same viewpoint. His statements came following Warner's claim that the interview process was 'rushed and botched'.

"It's about accountability, transparency, ensuring that the truth is properly examined and perhaps it's time people stop scrutinising the person, asking for accountability and start asking those responsible for the investigation to provide it," Warner had stated.

Furthermore, Starc denied knowing that Bancroft or any other Australian player had used sandpaper during the second Test in Port Elizabeth, as alleged by Khawaja. "That's the first I was aware of it [in Cape Town]. I'll leave that for the said author to explain," he added.

While Starc claims that he has not spoken to Khawaja since the former opener's recent public statement on the issue, when asked if he intends to speak to him again, Starc said, "It's up to him."