{
  "id": 20152653,
  "title": "Sayers says he believes entire Australia team knew about Sandpapergate",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/sayers-says-he-believes-entire-australia-team-knew-about-sandpapergate",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-15T09:40:38.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Channel News Asia",
    "slug": "channel-news-asia",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sport/sayers-says-he-believes-entire-australia-team-knew-about-sandpapergate-6552806"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Australia test bowler Chadd Sayers has expressed belief that the entire team knew about the Sandpapergate scandal during the 2018 South Africa tour. Sayers, who made only one test appearance, claimed to have removed sandpaper from the field during the second test at Port Elizabeth, according to the source. Sandpapergate led to multiple suspensions, including 12 months for former captain Steve Smith, 9 months for Cameron Bancroft, and a ban from elite cricket for Usman Khawaja. Khawaja alleged in his autobiography that knowledge of the sandpaper usage was not limited to the three punished players, but was more widespread throughout the team. Sayers stated that he was never questioned during the Cricket Australia investigation and suggested this could be due to his position as the 12th man or because he already possessed too much information. Despite the controversy, Sayers remains confident that every team member, including bowlers, were aware of the tampering with the ball.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "ESPNcricinfo",
        "title": "Sayers backs Khawaja's claims on sandpaper, goes against Cummins",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/sayers-backs-khawajas-claims-on-sandpaper-goes-against-cummins",
        "published": "2026-11-15T04:58:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Sport",
        "title": "Australia's Sayers 'took sandpaper from field' & rejects Cummins' claims",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/australias-sayers-took-sandpaper-from-field-rejects-cummins-claims",
        "published": "2026-11-15T07:32:46.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Australia's Sayers 'took sandpaper from field'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/australias-sayers-took-sandpaper-from-field",
        "published": "2026-11-15T07:32:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Australian cricket player backs Khawaja’s sandpapergate claim",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/australian-cricket-player-backs-khawajas-sandpapergate-claim",
        "published": "2026-11-15T07:37:35.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Australian cricket player backs Khawaja’s sandpapergate claim",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/15/australian-cricket-player-backs-khawajas-sandpapergate-claim-20135378",
        "published": "2026-11-15T07:37:35.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}