Chris Broad singles out Darren Lehmann over 2018 Sandpapergate, backs Khawaja’s account
Former England cricketer and match referee Chris Broad on November 11, 2026 criticised former Australia head coach Darren Lehmann over the 2018 ball-tampering scandal that erupted during the third Test in Cape Town on Australia's tour of South Africa. Broad said Lehmann should have been held accountable for the incident in remarks made on Track Radio and quoted by Fox Sports.
Usman Khawaja has made fresh revelations about the episode in his upcoming autobiography, Sabr, claiming the entire Australian team, including players and support staff, were aware of the ball-tampering. The scandal began when Cameron Bancroft was caught attempting to alter the condition of the ball with sandpaper in Cape Town in 2018. Then captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner were handed one-year bans from competitive cricket, while Bancroft received a nine-month suspension from international and domestic cricket.
Broad directly challenged Lehmann's claimed lack of knowledge, saying: "Darren Lehmann surely knew all about it," and adding, "And if he did not, he should not have been the coach at the time. I think he has got away lightly … OK, he left his job a few months later, but he did not get any sanctions."
He also recalled Lehmann's previous criticism of his son, former England pacer Stuart Broad, during the 2013 Ashes series and cited Lehmann's warning that the Australian team would make Stuart Broad "cry" when England toured Australia. Broad then said: "And here he is, the coach of the Australian cricket team that brought sandpaper out onto the field of play and denied any knowledge of this happening. I am very angry at Darren Lehmann in this respect,"
In Sabr, Khawaja claimed the Australian team had used sandpaper during the second Test in Gqeberha before the Cape Town incident and alleged that players had lifted the quarter-seam during the 2017-18 home Ashes series to facilitate reverse swing. The article also notes Australia won the third Test at Perth by an innings, a victory that helped them regain the Ashes.
Khawaja has argued responsibility for the episode was collective and has questioned Cricket Australia's investigation, saying several members of the team were not interviewed despite allegedly having knowledge of the incident.
Broad received unexpected support from former Australia opener David Warner, who wrote on X: "I could not agree more, and that's hard for me to say!" Broad's remarks came after Khawaja's disclosures in his upcoming autobiography, Sabr.
