Kevin Pietersen thinks this wasn't Bancroft idea, entangles Lehmann in the Sandpaper gate

KP suggested that no player can do something of this sort on their own.

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Cameron Bancroft ball tempering
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Cameron Bancroft ball tempering. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The South Africa vs Australia 3rd Test caught fire on day 3 when TV visuals showed that Aussie fielder Cameron Bancroft used an object to scratch the ball. He was caught in the act and the umpires soon went up to him to check what was he hiding in his pocket. Bancroft pulled something else out but given that there is video evidence, he isn’t going to get away with it.

As it turns out, the batsman used a sandpaper to rough up one side of the ball to aid reverse swing. He put the yellow paper back in his pocket after rubbing it on the ball. But once it was on camera, the head coach of the Australian team Darren Lehmann passed a message on his walkie-talkie to Peter Handscomb who was on the sidelines.

Handscomb went on the field and probably told Bancroft to hide it in case the umpires decided to check. He did just that and put it in his pants. An analysis then suggested that the ball started to swing a lot more after that particular instance and the degree of deflection was huge thereafter.

The umpires haven’t acted immediately as in case of a proven ball tampering. The law asks the officials to change the ball and add five runs to the batting team’s total as a penalty. There was a tea break soon after but the umpires are yet to take a call. Though it is inevitable that the match referee will be involved and the matter will be investigated.

If proved, Bancroft will certainly be looking at a ban, it will also be interesting to see what happens if Lehmann’s involvement is also evident and if he is caught in the range of fire as well.

KP’s take on the incident

Among those talking about it on social media was former England captain Kevin Pietersen. He wrote a series of tweets to state that the Sandpaper gate was going to be huge and he also suggested that no player can do something of this sort without the involvement or directions from the team.

“My 2cents worth – This will be Darren Lehmann’s greatest test as a coach, cos I will struggle to believe that this was all Bancroft’s idea.” KP wrote.

He had earlier tweeted, “SandpaperGate is going to be a monster.”

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