Don’t think anybody is surprised that more than three people knew about it: Clarke on Sandpaper Gate

After Cricket Australia issued a statement saying that anyone who had any more information about the sandpaper gate scandal should come out and submit it to the board, former Australia captain Michael Clarke has said that he is not surprised to find out that more than three people might have known about the ball-tampering plot. 

The 2018 ball-tampering scandal had reignited after Cameron Bancroft, in a recent interview, hinted that there was a possibility that Australian bowlers may have been aware of the ball-tampering.

Speaking on Sky Sports’ Big Sports Breakfast, former Australia captain Michael Clarke said that he feels there is no way bowlers would not have known about it.

“They’ve got to hold the ball to bowl with it,” he was quoted as saying by Fox Cricket.

“I can tell you now if you went and grabbed a pen, just a pen and put a little ‘1’ somewhere on my cricket bat; on top of the handle, on the edge of the bat, on the toe of the bat, on the face, under the grip, anywhere, just a little number one, I would have noticed," added Australia 2015 World Cup-winning skipper.

“If you are playing sport at the highest level you know your tools that good it’s not funny. Can you imagine that ball being thrown back to the bowler and the bowler not knowing about it? Please," Clarke further said.

“What’s the surprise? That more than three people knew? I don’t think anybody who has played the game of cricket or knows a little bit about cricket would know that in a team like that, at the highest level, when the ball is such an important part of the game.

“I don’t think anybody is surprised that more than three people knew about it," signed off the 40-year-old.