David Warner Backs Usman Khawaja’s Claims on Ball-Tampering Scandal
David Warner has publicly supported former teammate Usman Khawaja’s recent assertions that the entire Australian cricket squad was aware of the ball-tampering tactics employed during the 2018 South Africa tour.
Two days after Khawaja made his revelations to the Sydney Morning Herald, Warner took to Instagram on Sunday, November 9, to declare the claims “100 per cent accurate. This endorsement directly challenges a 2021 joint statement from Australian bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon, who had previously denied having any prior knowledge regarding the illicit use of sandpaper on the ball. In a video posted on his Instagram handle on Sunday [November 9], Warner thanked Khawaja for coming forward with “the truth” and rubbished opinions that the latter’s revelations were to sell his upcoming autobiography Sa.
In his video address, Warner expressed gratitude toward Khawaja for speaking out, dismissing suggestions that the timing of these comments was tied to the promotion of Khawaja’s upcoming autobiography, Sabr. Warner stated that the truth has finally surfaced, emphasizing that he fully supports Khawaja’s decision to come forward. He also used the platform to voice his frustration regarding the initial investigation conducted by Cricket Australia, which resulted in significant sanctions for himself, Steve Smith, and Cameron Bancroft.
Warner specifically criticized the investigative process as being “rushed and botched.” He pointed out that Khawaja, who was positioned near Bancroft throughout the match, was never interviewed by officials. “How is that a thorough investigation? It baffles me,” Warner remarked. The former vice-captain, who served a 12-month ban from international and domestic cricket and faced a lifetime leadership prohibition—a restriction later overturned in 2024 by an independent review panel—called for greater transparency and accountability regarding how the board handled the aftermath of the incident. Apart from being banned for life from holding any leadership or captaincy positions within Australian cricket (though this ban was later lifted in 2024 by an independent review panel), warner was handed a 12-month ban from all international and domestic cricket.
Reflecting on the personal toll of the scandal, Warner noted that he waited several days to speak publicly to ensure he first addressed the matter with his children. He recounted the difficulty of explaining the events to his 12-year-old daughter, Ivy, after she witnessed the intense media scrutiny and the emotional distress of their family on television. He stated that he taught his children that honesty is paramount, telling them that “lies will eventually get out.” According to he also, He took a couple of days’ time to speak up about it in order to talk to his daughters first and explain the aftermath of the events of the Test, with an emotional Warner captured arriving home with his family on camera. “I’ve had to tell them exactly what had happened – especially my 12-year old Ivy, wanting to know why we’re holding her, why there were so many cameras, why we’re crying on TV.
Warner acknowledged that revisiting this chapter remains painful for his family, as well as for Smith and Bancroft, but insisted that bringing the full truth to light was a necessary step. He argued that the focus should shift from scrutinizing individuals to demanding that those responsible for the original inquiry provide the transparency that was missing years ago. According to Warner, there have been numerous inaccuracies propagated in the media over the last eight years, and his goal is to foster an environment of accountability rather than simply pointing fingers at his former peers. “Uzzy, I throw my full support behind you. “We’re not here to point fingers and we’re not opening our wounds.
