Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff feels that the entire Australian team was involved in the ball-tampering controversy that shocked World Cricket in 2018, but captain Steve Smith took the blame for saving his team. In addition to Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were also suspended following this 'Sandpaper-Gate' episode during a Test match against South Africa in Cape Town.
Flintoff told TalkSport, "I can't believe the whole team was not involved in it." If someone gives me the ball as a bowler and it has been tampered with, then I will know from the beginning. Steve Smith took the blame on everyone.
Flintoff said, "Ball tampering has been happening for a long time and I think there is a limit after which someone does it. We were also accused of putting jelly on the ball. People also apply sunscreen cream on it, they have tried everything as possible. '
Smith was also banned from captaincy for two years. He said that it is difficult to believe that the other members of the team did not know what was happening. "Sandpaper is wrong, but it is more stupid than anything else, but I can't believe that other team members were not involved in some way or the other," said Flintoff.
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