He got away lightly: Chris Broad tears into Darren Lehmann over Sandpapergate

Chris Broad has criticised former Australia coach Darren Lehmann over the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal, questioning how he escaped sanctions. His comments follow Usman Khawaja's fresh revelations about the ball-tampering controversy.Darren Lehmann was the head coach of the Australian men's team during Sandpapergate. (Image: AFP)New Delhi,Nov 11, 2026 16:06 ISTFormer England cricketer and match referee Chris Broad has launched a scathing attack on former Australia head coach Darren Lehmann over the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, questioning how he could have been unaware of the incident and arguing that he escaped without facing any meaningful punishment.Broad's comments came amid renewed scrutiny of Australia's infamous 'Sandpapergate' controversy following fresh revelations by Usman Khawaja in his autobiography, Sabr. The former Australia batter has claimed that knowledge of the ball-tampering episode extended beyond the three players who were eventually sanctioned, suggesting that the entire team, including support staff, should have shared responsibility.Reacting to Khawaja's claims, Broad questioned Lehmann's position as head coach during Australia's 2018 tour of South Africa and suggested that he could not have been completely unaware of what was happening within the team."Darren Lehmann surely knew all about it," Broad said on Track Radio, as quoted by Fox Sports. "And if he did not, he should not have been the coach at the time. I think he has got away lightly OK, he left his job a few months later, but he did not get any sanctions."LEHMANN'S RESIGNATIONLehmann stepped down as Australia's head coach on March 29, 2018, in the aftermath of the ball-tampering scandal that erupted during the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town. His resignation came after Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera attempting to alter the condition of the ball using sandpaper. Then captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner were also implicated in the controversy.While announcing his decision to leave the role, Lehmann maintained that he had no prior knowledge of the players' actions. He also accepted responsibility for the team's culture, saying he believed his departure would allow Australian cricket to begin rebuilding its reputation."I'm ultimately responsible for the culture of the team," Lehmann said while announcing his resignation.He also spoke about the emotional toll of watching Smith and Bancroft face the media following the incident, saying the sight of the players dealing with the fallout had influenced his decision.Cricket Australia subsequently maintained that Lehmann was not involved in the ball-tampering plot. Smith and Warner received 12-month bans from competitive cricket, while Bancroft was suspended for nine months. Lehmann, meanwhile, faced no formal sanction.Broad, however, believes the former Australia coach escaped accountability.The former England cricketer also recalled Lehmann's criticism of his son, former England fast bowler Stuart Broad, during the 2013 Ashes series. Stuart had refused to walk after edging a delivery to the slips, triggering a furious reaction from the Australian camp.Lehmann had subsequently warned that Australia would make the England pacer "cry" when the teams toured Down Under.Broad brought up that episode while explaining his anger towards the former Australia coach, accusing him of taking the moral high ground against his son while denying knowledge of the sandpaper incident."And here he is, the coach of the Australian cricket team that brought sandpaper out onto the field of play and denied any knowledge of this happening. I am very angry at Darren Lehmann in this respect," Broad said.KHAWAJA'S EXPLOSIVE CLAIMSThe latest controversy stems from Khawaja's autobiography, Sabr, in which the Australia batter has challenged the way the 2018 scandal was investigated and punished.Khawaja has argued that responsibility for the incident was collective and questioned why Smith, Warner and Bancroft were left to shoulder the blame when, according to his account, awareness of the ball-tampering episode extended across the dressing room and support staff.In his book, Khawaja claimed that Australia had also used sandpaper during the second Test in Gqeberha, before the incident came to light in Cape Town. He suggested that the plan was not limited to a handful of players and that the wider group should have accepted responsibility.The former Australia batter also questioned Cricket Australia's investigation, claiming several members of the team were not interviewed despite allegedly having knowledge of the incident.His revelations extended beyond the South Africa tour. Khawaja also made claims about Australia's attempts to alter the condition of the ball during the 2017-18 home Ashes series, alleging that players had lifted the quarter-seam to generate reverse swing. Australia won the third Test in Perth by an innings, a result that helped them regain the Ashes.Lehmann, meanwhile, has pushed back against Khawaja's account. The former Australia coach has disputed the suggestion that everyone in the team knew about the use of sandpaper, maintaining that he could only speak about what he personally knew.Broad has found an unlikely ally in former Australia opener David Warner, who has also backed Khawaja's revelations about the 2018 tour.Reacting to Broad's comments on X, Warner expressed his agreement, writing: "I could not agree more, and that's hard for me to say!" Image: (Screengrab from X/@davidwarner31) The revelations have reopened uncomfortable questions about one of the darkest episodes in Australian cricket. Nearly nine years after the Cape Town Test, the debate has shifted beyond Smith, Warner and Bancroft to the wider team environment and the accountability of those in positions of authority. With Khawaja challenging the findings of the original investigation and Broad questioning Lehmann's role, Sandpapergate continues to cast a shadow over Australian cricket.- Ends