Australia is reeling once again — this time off the field of play thanks to a forthcoming autobiography titled Sabr by former Test opening batsman Usman Khawaja.
asserted
Australia → reel → Khawaja
One chapter that has touched a nerve is about the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, when sandpaper was used to rough up the ball in the third Test versus South Africa in Cape Town.
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sandpaper → touch → Town
In an explosive revelation, the opener opened a can of worms by mentioning that the entire team — including the coaching staff — were aware of the incident, but Cricket Australia only pointed the finger at three: Skipper Steve Smith, his vice-captain David Warner and batsman Cameron Bancroft.
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Australia → open → three
Both Smith and Warner, who have both played in Canada in recent years, were banned for two years from international competition, while Bancroft was sidelined for nine months.
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Bancroft → play → months
Warner, who recently retired from the international game, threw his full support behind Khawaja, stating “it’s 100% accurate what you have said.”
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you → retire → what
“People wanted to know it, you’ve come out and said it, and now people are saying why eight years on, talking about selling a book,” the bombastic Warner said.
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Warner → want → book
This is what Usman believes.
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Usman → believe → what
Uzzy wrote down every single thing from that day on … thank you.”
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Uzzy → write → you
Many have questioned Khawaja’s decision to stir up the pot eight months after the fact and also wanting to know if it was a ploy to boost book sales at Christmas time.
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it → question → time
Khawaja denies it has anything to do with increased book sales, but questions why the three were picked for public humiliation on behalf of the entire team.
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three → deny → team
A couple of Aussie aces — coach Darren Lehman and fast bowler Mitchell Starc — have denied any knowledge of the sandpaper plot.
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couple → deny → plot
“That’s part and parcel of selling books, I suppose,” was all Lehmann would say.
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Lehmann → ’ → books
Starc added he was “sticking to what I said eight years ago.”
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I → add → what
The seamer added he was disappointed by Khawaja’s allegation.
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he → add → allegation
“I guess I won’t speak on behalf of the bowlers but, where I stand, my opinion hasn’t changed, my recollection hasn’t changed from what we said in 2021,” Starc said.
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Starc → guess → 2021
Cricket Australia has since released a statement saying it remains comfortable with the findings of its investigation, conducted eight years ago.
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it → release → investigation
That response prompted Warner to speak out.
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response → prompt → Warner
“This whole interview process was rushed and botched,” he said.
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he → rush → ?
“Uzzy was sitting next to Cameron Bancroft.
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Uzzy → sit → Bancroft
Uzzy was not interviewed.
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Uzzy → interview → ?
Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg said he does not see “any compelling reasons to reopen the investigation.”
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he → say → investigation
So, for now, Australia will wear this dark stain on its reputation.
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Australia → wear → reputation
NEW DAWN IN B.C.
Long-time cricket administrator Alphonso Franco, who has been held in high-esteem for his work in the sport, stunned the local establishment on the weekend by being ushered in as president of Cricket B.C. in overwhelming fashion over 11 candidates.
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who → hold → candidates
Franco brings a wealth of experience to this portfolio as he was previously president of the Victoria body and in recent years managed Team Canada to various international tournaments.
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he → bring → tournaments
He has also been inducted in Canada’s Financial Hall of Fame.
B.C. has been in the limelight in recent weeks after several members were threatened with physical violence.
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members → induct → violence
These cases are being investigated by the police.
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cases → investigate → police
One thing that is certain is that Franco will start cleaning the house as soon as possible.
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Franco → start → house
“Cricket BC has the opportunity to showcase what is possible when people come together to clean up cricket,” he told the Sun.
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he → have → Sun
“We must also demonstrate paths for juniors, women and men who want to play at a higher level.
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who → demonstrate → level
Although Franco declines to talk about the debt incurred in the past two years, we have learned it is estimated to be at least $100,000.
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it → decline → years
“Our goal is first and foremost to get out of debt,” he said.
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he → get → debt
“Second is to make sure players from the various groups are given an opportunity to perform and be showcased without any prejudice based on language, ethnicity, religion, geographical, or any other discriminatory practices.”
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players → make → language
ZIMBABWE CREATES HISTORY
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ZIMBABWE → create → HISTORY
Zimbabwe has done something that no nation has gone before: It became the first country to score at least 500 runs in both of its Test innings versus Afghanistan in the drawn first match played in Sharjah, U.A.E.
After piling on 504 in the first innings, it followed up the second with another impressive 523 for five.
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it → do → five
Afghanistan also blossomed with the bat by posting a massive 514 in its first knock thanks to a magnificent knock by Rahmat Shah, who made an unbeaten 173.
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who → blossom → 173
Zimbabwe’s other centurions included Brendan Taylor (131) and Brian Bennett (128).
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centurions → include → Taylor
Fans are expected to jam the stadium this coming weekend in anticipation of another run fest.
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Fans → expect → fest
The Aporia
