Khawaja alerted Cummins, CA boss to new book’s ‘sandpaper’ contents
Usman Khawaja spoke to Test captain Pat Cummins and Cricket Australia boss Todd Greenberg about the contents of his forthcoming memoir before the team departed for South Africa, where the host broadcaster has re-aired controversial ‘sandpaper’ footage on the eve of Australia’s heavyweight series against the world Test champions.
The fallout from the infamous 2018 ball-tampering scandal continues to follow the team, who are about to play their first Test series in South Africa since the events of Cape Town rocked world cricket.
SuperSport posted the incriminating footage to social media of Cameron Bancroft applying sandpaper to the ball and the Australian camp’s panic in the moments after being caught red-handed eight years ago.
The first Test starts in Durban on Friday.
Connolly quarantined as Australia delay Durban team selection
Durban: Cooper Connolly was quarantined from the Australian team with a head cold amid deepening mystery about the composition of the side to face South Africa on a spinning deck at Kingsmead on Friday.
After taking part in the touring team’s final training session, Connolly donned a mask and left the ground in a separate car to the team bus. He is one of several players waiting on a final look at the pitch by selectors on match morning before an XI is settled.
It is now possible that Australia will pick both Connolly and Nic Maddinson, potentially leaving out Beau Webster from the side.
“We’re just trying to work out what we think is the best batting lineup for those conditions, obviously Cam Green’s out,” skipper Pat Cummins said. “You know, Josh Inglis isn’t here as well. So that’s a couple of, kind of, the changes that you’ve got to match up.
“Conditions is another one. You know, what are they going to throw at us? Everyone brings something a little bit different to it, and it’s just trying to work out what the combo is.”
The squads, conditions in Durban
South Africa have already said they will play two spinners in Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj as Durban is expected to spin as the game progresses.
Australia may wait until stumps to lock in their side.
Good afternoon
G’day everyone and welcome to our Test cricket live blog ad we begin the highly anticipated series against South Africa with the first Test in Durban.
We are counting down until the toss and the naming of the final teams.
The first ball is set to be bowled at 6.30pm AEDT. Kayo is showing the series live if you are looking for the broadcast.
Enjoy the hours to come.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
