Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has said that things have gone out of control regarding the 2018 ball-tampering saga. His comments came a day after David Warner’s manager James Erskine revealed some stunning revelations.
Speaking to SEN 1170 Afternoons, Erskine confirmed the involvement of more people in the ball-tampering fiasco and David Warner protected them on his advice as well. While the then-skipper Steve Smith and Warner were handed a year-long ban, Bancroft was suspended for nine months after the ball-tampering incident against South Africa in 2018 came into the limelight. Erskine also added that certain executives asked players to tamper with the ball after Australia’s humiliating defeat to South Africa in Hobart in 2016.
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Speaking to Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast, Clarke said: “I’ll tell you what, there are some nervous men waking up this morning with this comments made yesterday by David Warner’s manager James Erskine. When I saw that yesterday, my jaw hit the floor.”This thing is going nowhere. This thing is getting out of control. This thing is getting bigger. I wish this thing would go away. Well, you know what, I’m going to say the opposite because yesterday is an explosion.”
However, Erskine’s comments came a day after David Warner withdrew his appeal to overturn his lifetime leadership ban imposed by Cricket Australia (CA) as well. With the three-member panel to review his ban seeking a public trial, the veteran has refused to let his family go through the ordeal as well.
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Michael Clarke also urged Cricket Australia to come forward to look into the matter and clarify things instead of avoiding it. claiming that the truth must come out at all costs, he stated: “Where’s Cricket Australia? This is the thing that needs to be clear to Cricket Australia. You cannot sweep this under the carpet and say, ‘Well, we’ve got a new board, we’ve got a new CEO’. You better find out what the heck has gone on. I’m telling you now if James Erskine has that information, do you think that’s the only thing he’s got. This thing is not going away, the truth needs to be told.”
