Cummins to address Khawaja allegations as Marsh declines to revisit ball-tampering scandal

Australia captain Pat Cummins will address allegations raised in Usman Khawaja's autobiography at a news conference, after Mitchell Marsh declined to revisit the team's 2018 ball-tampering scandal. BBC Sport reported on Thursday that Cummins and Cricket Australia had arranged the appearance for Friday morning in Australia, corresponding to 22:30 GMT on Thursday. Cummins said he had been examining the allegations before giving his response.

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Marsh faced repeated questions about the controversy at his own news conference on Thursday but chose not to recount his memories of the South Africa tour. The all-rounder, who was bowling when the scandal emerged during the Cape Town Test, said he respected others' decisions to tell their stories. He explained that he had moved on and was concentrating on preparing Australia's one-day side.

The renewed scrutiny centres on what Australia's bowlers knew about the plan to alter the ball with sandpaper. According to the BBC report, Khawaja's book calls for collective responsibility and alleges that using sandpaper to encourage reverse swing had been discussed during the preceding Test. Those claims remain allegations; the report did not include Cummins' detailed response, which he had yet to deliver.

Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon issued a joint statement in 2021 saying they had not known that a foreign substance was taken onto the field. All four remain part of Australia's team, the BBC reported. Their earlier denial is a central part of the background to the questions now being raised following the publication of Khawaja's account.

Cricket Australia's interim chair, David Boon, has meanwhile supported Cummins continuing as captain. In comments to The Australian cited by the BBC, Boon praised his leadership, integrity and record of success, making clear that the organisation retained confidence in him. That endorsement came before Cummins' scheduled news conference and his promised response to the book.

Marsh is deputising for Cummins as Australia's 50-over captain for the three-match series against England, which begins on Friday. England captain Harry Brook said his players were concentrating on their own preparations and could not speak about events in Australia's dressing room. Marsh likewise said preparing his one-day group had been his priority during a week dominated by questions about 2018.