Australian cricket's sandpapergate is back - and it cuts deep in a 'nation of good sports'

Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins faced intense media scrutiny Friday over claims in a memoir by former teammate Usman Khawaja that the entire national team knew about a 2018 ball-tampering scheme in Cape Town, where three players were banned. Khawaja's allegations have reignited one of sport's biggest cheating scandals nearly a decade later, casting doubt on key figures including Cummins and prompting frustration among fans eager to move past the incident. The controversy has exposed divisions among players and coaches over collective responsibility and the prevalence of ball tampering across international cricket.