‘I’ve moved on’: Mitch Marsh plays flat bat to Khawaja’s sandpaper allegations

Mitch Marsh has refused to answer questions around Australia tampering with the ball during the tour of South Africa in 2018, the day before Pat Cummins is due to speak to media about Usman Khawaja’s allegations.Australia’s white-ball captain, who was part of the Test team that played in South Africa eight years ago, repeatedly deflected questions about the infamous sandpaper plotthat were put to him during a press conference ahead of the first one-day international against England in Perth on Friday.Marsh was on the front foot from the opening question regarding allegations raised Khawaja’s new book that more than the three players banned for ball tampering in South Africa in 2018 had knowledge of the plan. As the current ODI skipper said, “Got a six off the first ball there mate, well done.”But Marsh was tight-lipped from there as he attempted to turn the spotlight on the white-ball series – with three ODIs and five T20Is – starting this week.“There has obviously been a lot of noise around this week and I respect that certain people have told their stories, but I’m not here to share mine today,” Marsh said.“I know that might sound weird, but it’s a big week for us and it’s an important time for this one-day group, and my sole focus has been on preparing for tomorrow.“I’m walking out tomorrow to captain my country in a really exciting series against England in a World Cup year, and I’m focused on that.”Australia’s captain at the time, Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and opener Cameron Bancroft were handed long suspensions by Cricket Australia after the governing body’s short investigation into the incident.Khawaja alleges in his new memoir Sabr that more than just the three banned players were aware of the team’s ball tampering plans, and that sandpaper was also used during the preceding Test. The former batter has called for “all” players to take collective responsibility.Marsh said he has not read Khawaja’s book but had spoken to his former teammate ahead of its release, while refusing to further explain what was said on their phone call.“I’m not here to go back on my recollections of South Africa,” Marsh said.“My honest answer is because I’ve personally moved on, I respect that others probably haven’t, but I have, and I hope that’s respected.”skip past newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotionA war of words: Usman Khawaja’s autobiography “Sabr” alleges more people involved in Australian cricket knew about ball tampering in 2018. Photograph: James Redmayne/ReutersMarsh was part of the Australia XI that played in the third Test against South Africa when Cameron Bancroft was filmed handling a piece of sandpaper on the field in Cape Town in 2018.But the all-rounder did not put his name to a statement issued by the bowling group of Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon in 2021 in which they denied knowledge of the plan.“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,” the statement read.Cricket Australia said this week there was “no compelling reason” to reopen its ball tampering investigation in light of Khawaja’s book, while Starc reaffirmed his stance on Tuesday that he and those who issued the statement had no knowledge of the plot to take “anything” on to the field at Newlands in 2018.Cummins said on Thursday that after taking time to “better understand” Khawaja’s allegations, he would front the media the following morning at Cricket NSW’s headquarters in Sydney.“Happy to speak with any and all media about the events of this week,” Cummins posted on Instagram.“I’ve taken some time to try and better understand the long list and full extent of Uzzy’s allegations so I can respond properly.”