‘I know the whole truth’ – David Warner's manager James Erskine slams CA over Sandpapergate investigation

While it has been over three years since the infamous Sandpaper gate scandal happened, the controversy is likely to hover around Australian cricket for some more time. Cameron Bancroft, who faced a nine-month ban for tampering the ball during the 2018 Cape Town Test, recently dropped a massive bombshell by hinting that Australian bowlers were aware of the happening. Now, David Warner’s manager James Erskine has revealed some more information about the episode.

At that time, Cricket Australia (CA) had stated that they investigated the whole matter properly and subsequently banned the then-Aussie-skipper Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner alongside Bancroft. However, Erskine called the 2018 investigation a ‘joke’, claiming that CA didn’t interview all the players involved in the infamous Test match. Moreover, Warner’s manager even claimed that he’s aware of the whole truth, which will come in public eventually.

Cricket Australia didn’t interview all players involved: James Erskine

“The report that was done, they didn’t interview all the players. The whole thing was so badly handled, it was a joke. But eventually the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, will come out and I know the whole truth. But it doesn’t serve any purpose because the Australian public over a period of time got to dislike the Australian team because they didn’t behave particularly well,” James Erskine told Sydney Morning Herald.

Notably, Warner was found guilty of heralding the whole plot and hence, received a life-long ban from taking any leadership role in the national team. Erskine even asserted that the three banned players were treated ‘despicably’, and had they raised their voice, their punishment would have been reduced due to the ‘whole truth.’

“There is absolutely no doubt that Smith, Warner and Bancroft were treated despicably. The fact of the matter is they did the wrong thing but the punishment didn’t fit the crime. I think if one or two of those players had taken legal action they would have won because of what the truth was,” Erskine added.

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia, following Bancroft’s sensational interview, said that they are ready to reinvestigate the matter if any new information is presented. Hence, it would be interesting to see how far the episode will be stretched and what more information will come out.