Cummins Faces Calls for Honesty Over Old Ball-Tampering Scandal
Listen to the story
Pat Cummins is the captain of the Australia cricket team. People want him to talk about an old scandal.
In March 2018, Australia played cricket in South Africa. Some players tried to change the cricket ball. This is called ball tampering. It is against the rules.
The player who was captain then was Steve Smith. Cricket Australia punished him. Many people say he took the blame for other players too.
A writer named Geoff Lemon says Cummins can now help. Cummins was on that team in 2018. He was not punished.
Lemon says Cummins should tell the truth. He should say what players knew at the time. He should not hide behind what they say they "didn't know."
This old story is called the sandpaper saga. People used sandpaper to change the ball.
Many fans still want more answers about 2018. They want to know who knew about the plan.
Cummins has not given full details yet. Lemon thinks full disclosure would help cricket move on.
The story shows how teams keep secrets. It also shows how one person often takes all the blame.
Cricket fans continue to talk about this old event in 2026.
Vocabulary6 words
- captain
- the leader of a sports team
- scandal
- a bad event that shocks people
- ball tampering
- changing a ball in an unfair way
- sandpaper saga
- the name people use for this cricket scandal
- sandpaper
- rough paper used to rub surfaces
- disclosure
- telling people the full truth
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Quiz
Answer key
1. Captain 2. Players tampered with the ball 3. True
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Pat Cummins is the _____ of the Australia cricket team.
In March 2018, Australia played cricket in _____ Africa.
Some players tried to change the cricket _____.
This is called ball _____.
The player who was captain then was Steve _____.
A writer named Geoff _____ says Cummins can help.
Cummins was on that _____ in 2018.
Lemon says Cummins should tell the _____.
This old story is called the sandpaper _____.
Lemon thinks full _____ would help cricket move on.
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