The Sandpaper Gate, one of the most controversial and infamous incidents in the game's history, shook the cricketing world. It brought the Australian side, especially their main stars David Warner and Steve Smith, into the spotlight for the wrong reasons.
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Smith, the then Test captain, and Warner were suspended from the game for one year as a punishment for the incident. It was a shameful period in Aussie cricket history, where the players were caught using sandpaper to alter the ball's condition.
Former England all-rounder Ravi Bopara has now backed Warner, stating that the Australian opener might have only been partly involved in what transpired in South Africa in 2018.
What did Ravi Bopara say about David Warner?
In a recent Podcast with Beard Before Wicket, Bopara opened up about his PSL teammate David Warner, remarking that the batter is not at all hot-headed.
He also spoke about the infamous sandpaper incident that involved Warner.
"No, not really (about Warner being hot-headed). He told us recently (about the sandpaper incident) because I was in Pakistan with him for a good six weeks, and he said a lot of it was not true, while a lot of it might be true."
While Warner has been one of Australia's greats, the incident has shadowed his long career and has impacted his reputation in World cricket.
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Bopara's comments have now opened a fresh perspective and once again sparked debate about the incident involving Smith, Warner, and Cameron Bancroft.
Bancroft was caught using the sandpaper during the third Test in Cape Town against South Africa in 2018, but the other two were accused of asking the youngster to do it. Subsequently, all three cricketers were handed a ban.
The opener called time on his International career after Australia's exit from the T20 World Cup in 2024. He now features in some of the global leagues across the world
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