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‘Is It Fair To Say?’: Former WC Winning Captain Questions Warner's Timing Of Sandpaper Gate Remarks

Clarke Criticizes Timing of Warner's Sandpaper Remarks [x.com]Clarke Criticizes Timing of Warner's Sandpaper Remarks [x.com]

Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has weighed in on veteran David Warner's recent remarks about the Sandpaper Gate scandal.

Speaking on ESPN's Around the Wicket, Michael Clarke acknowledged the pressures Warner and others faced but criticized the timing of Warner's comments.

Warner's Sandpaper Gate Comments Wrongly Timed

"I understand where Davey comes from. I think parts of what he said are fair enough. I don't think he has got the timing right,"

Clarke remarked, highlighting the inappropriate timing during the World Cup.

"I don't think it is fair to say that he is the only one who's copped it. I think Cameron Bancroft has certainly copped it, and it is the reason he is not in the Australian Test team, because of what happened years ago. Steve Smith, obviously, copped it and lost the Australia captaincy."

Clarke's comments come after Warner expressed his feelings about the ongoing impact of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal. Warner, Smith, and Bancroft were involved in the incident during a Test match in South Africa.

Warner and Smith received one-year bans from Cricket Australia (CA), while Bancroft served a nine-month suspension. Additionally, Warner was given a lifetime ban from leadership roles in Australian cricket.

Addressing the press, Warner stated, "Coming back since 2018, I've probably been the only one that's ever copped a lot of flak. Whether it's people who don't like the Australian cricket team or don't like me, I've always been that person who has copped it."

Despite the controversy, Warner has continued to achieve significant milestones, including winning the T20 World Cup 2021, the World Test Championship 2023, and the ODI World Cup 2023.

As Australia, led by Mitchell Marsh, advances in the Super 8 stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, Clarke and other former captains like Aaron Finch have emphasized the importance of maintaining focus during the tournament.