Mitchell Starc denies Sandpapergate knowledge as Cricket Australia rules out new probe

Mitchell Starc has denied knowing about Australia's ball-tampering plan during the 2018 tour of South Africa, following fresh allegations from former team-mate Usman Khawaja.

Khawaja claimed in his new autobiography, Sabr, that the entire Australian dressing room knew about the use of sandpaper to alter the ball during the Cape Town Test. David Warner has publicly backed his account.

Starc, however, insists his recollection has not changed since the bowlers' joint statement in 2021, when he, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon denied knowing that a foreign substance had been taken onto the field.

The fast bowler also said Khawaja's claim that the ball had been tampered with in the previous Test in Port Elizabeth was news to him.

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has ruled out reopening the investigation, saying the organisation sees no compelling reason to revisit the case.

The original inquiry resulted in bans for Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.