Root Hits Back at Khawaja’s ‘Whole World Was Tampering’ Claim

Sandpapergate is back in the headlines. Joe Root has firmly shut down Usman Khawaja’s explosive claim that the entire cricketing world was tampering with the ball during the 2017-18 Ashes. With England also hit by a fresh injury blow in Australia, the build-up to the white-ball tour just got a lot more dramatic.

Root Draws a Line on Khawaja’s Sabr Claims

Root, who captained England in the 2017-18 Ashes, has rejected the assertion in Khawaja’s autobiography, Sabr, that everyone was at it. He said he could only speak from his own experience and would not speculate about what happened in the Australian dressing room.

Asked how the allegations made him feel about that series, Root said he was not in that room and did not know what went on. Pressed on the wider claim that tampering was universal, he said that was simply not how he felt.

“I can only speak from my own experiences. That’s not how I feel. I wasn’t in that dressing-room. I don’t know what went on. I don’t want to speculate, as I said. My focus is with this team right now and what we’ve got coming up. We obviously have no idea. It’s all speculation. Our focus, our concerns are on this three-match series,” Root said, as quoted by Daily Mail.

What Does Khawaja Claim in Sabr?

Khawaja’s book reignites a controversy that first erupted eight years ago. Cameron Bancroft was caught using sandpaper on the ball during the third Test against South Africa at Newlands, Cape Town, on March 24, 2018.

Khawaja goes further. He claims Australia also used sandpaper during the second Test at Port Elizabeth in that same 2018 series, and that every member of the touring party knew about the plans.

Reverse Swing Experiments in the Ashes

He also writes that during the 2017-18 Ashes, Australia experimented with lifting the quarter seam of the ball to generate reverse swing. His suggestion is that the whole world was doing whatever it could to make the ball move.

Root’s reply was clear. He called the broader allegations speculation and pointed England’s attention firmly to the series ahead.

The Original Scandal: What Happened Next

The fallout from Cape Town was severe. It cost some of Australia’s biggest names their places in the game and ended a coaching tenure.

Bethell Flies Home With Knee Swelling

England have problems of their own. Jacob Bethell has had to cut short the white-ball tour of Australia. He flew back to the United Kingdom from Perth on Saturday with a swelling in his right knee.

Bethell was due to make his comeback in Friday’s first ODI against Australia at Optus Stadium in Perth. That return is now off. He will see a specialist to establish the full extent of the problem.

A Knee Issue That Began at Lord’s

Bethell first injured the right knee during the Lord’s ODI against India on July 19, 2026. He had not played any cricket since that match.

England’s Squad Stretched Thin

Bethell is not the only absentee on this eight-match tour. Fast bowler Josh Tongue has been ruled out of the three-match ODI series with a toe injury, having already missed the five T20 internationals.

England have called up two uncapped players to cover. They are Hampshire quick Eddie Jack and Sussex spin-bowling all-rounder James Coles.

Ben Duckett, who flourished during a recent tri-series involving Pakistan, will continue his opening partnership with Tom Banton.

Next Up: South Africa and the Test Question

After Australia, England turn to a Test assignment in South Africa. The first Test begins on December 17 in Centurion. That gives management a window to assess Bethell’s fitness and decide whether he can be considered for selection.

No replacement for Bethell in the Test squad has been confirmed at this stage.

The Bottom Line

Root has chosen to keep England’s focus on the cricket, even as Sabr reopens one of the sport’s most painful chapters. With injuries mounting and a big series about to start, the next few days could shape England’s tour.