Cameron Bancroft's recent comments over the 2018 Sandpapergate has reopened the wounds of Australian cricket. The batsman had hinted that the bowlers in the match knew about ball-tampering. However, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon, who featured in the Test match, issued a statement to clarify that they were unaware of the incident.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/michael-clarke-adam-gilchrist-react-to-cameron-bancrofts-ball-tampering-remarks-385550" hreflang="en">Michael Clarke, Adam Gilchrist react to Cameron Bancroft's ball-tampering remarks</a>

But, former Australian skipper Michael Clarke feels that the letter was written smartly by the bowlers and questioned their statement.&nbsp;

“I knew when I made my comments about what Cameron Bancroft's quotes were it was more than likely going to offend certain people. It certainly was not done personally from my perspective, particularly with the four bowlers concerned, I’m good friends with all of them. I think there have been a number of people, past players, journalists who have made comments based on what Cameron Bancroft said and then what David Saker, the bowling coach, as well had said,” Clarke told Sky Sports Radio on Wednesday morning.

“I think that is what's really important after seeing the joint statement. The one thing that stands out for mine in that statement [is] they forgot how this conversation was brought up. It was comments from a teammate Cameron Bancroft who was involved in the situation and then quotes from David Saker who was the bowling coach at the time.

“After journalists and past players like myself, Adam Gilchrist and Stuart Broad, a current player, had seen what was said and written, a lot of people have made comments. I think those guys and Cricket Australia need to remember how this conversation has been brought up so in their statement they should have added where it says: 'We pride ourselves on our honesty’. So, it’s been disappointing to see that our integrity has been questioned by some journalists and past players' -- you probably should have put current teammate who was there at the time and did the crime and bowling coach who was there too. You probably left two people out,” he added.

“This statement is very smartly worded and written so I'm not going to sit here and continue to talk about every word in that statement. I’ve said what I’ve said. It certainly was not personal towards them. I said what I said because that’s what I believe,” Clarke concluded.

Cameron Bancroft last played for Australia in the 2019 Ashes Test against England. The batsman acknowledges he cushioned his opportunity to make a long vacation in international cricket after his demonstration in the Cape Town Test. Cameron Bancroft has played 10 Tests, accumulating 446 runs at an average of 26.3, including three fifties. The batsman had played an amazing thump of 77 in Cape Town in the scandalous Test in 2018 and once named it as his best thump in international cricket.

Cameron Bancroft's recent comments over the 2018 Sandpapergate has reopened the wounds of Australian cricket. The batsman had hinted that the bowlers in the match knew about ball-tampering.

Cameron Bancroft's recent comments over the 2018 Sandpapergate has reopened the wounds of Australian cricket. The batsman had hinted that the bowlers in the match knew about ball-tampering. However, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon, who featured in the Test match, issued a statement to clarify that they were unaware of the incident. ALSO READ: Michael Clarke, Adam Gilchrist react to Cameron Bancroft's ball-tampering remarks But, former Australian skipper Michael Clarke feels that the letter was written smartly by the bowlers and questioned their statement. “I knew when I made my comments about what Cameron Bancroft's quotes were it was more than likely going to offend certain people. It certainly was not done personally from my perspective, particularly with the four bowlers concerned, I’m good friends with all of them. I think there have been a number of people, past players, journalists who have made comments based on what Cameron Bancroft said and then what David Saker, the bowling coach, as well had said,” Clarke told Sky Sports Radio on Wednesday morning. “I think that is what's really important after seeing the joint statement. The one thing that stands out for mine in that statement [is] they forgot how this conversation was brought up. It was comments from a teammate Cameron Bancroft who was involved in the situation and then quotes from David Saker who was the bowling coach at the time. “After journalists and past players like myself, Adam Gilchrist and Stuart Broad, a current player, had seen what was said and written, a lot of people have made comments. I think those guys and Cricket Australia need to remember how this conversation has been brought up so in their statement they should have added where it says: 'We pride ourselves on our honesty’. So, it’s been disappointing to see that our integrity has been questioned by some journalists and past players' -- you probably should have put current teammate who was there at the time and did the crime and bowling coach who was there too. You probably left two people out,” he added. “This statement is very smartly worded and written so I'm not going to sit here and continue to talk about every word in that statement. I’ve said what I’ve said. It certainly was not personal towards them. I said what I said because that’s what I believe,” Clarke concluded. Cameron Bancroft last played for Australia in the 2019 Ashes Test against England. The batsman acknowledges he cushioned his opportunity to make a long vacation in international cricket after his demonstration in the Cape Town Test. Cameron Bancroft has played 10 Tests, accumulating 446 runs at an average of 26.3, including three fifties. The batsman had played an amazing thump of 77 in Cape Town in the scandalous Test in 2018 and once named it as his best thump in international cricket.

'Very smartly worded and written': Michael Clarke on bowlers' letter on 2018 Sandpaper gate

Former Australian skipper Michael Clarke reckons it is due to the Indian Premier League (IPL) that Australian cricketers are scared to sledge Virat Kohli or other Indian players during bilateral series or other tournaments. Clarke is of the view that players are too afraid to sledge any of the Indian players due to the huge bucks they are bagging for participating in the IPL while adding some feel that sledging Indian players could affect their deals in the cash-rich tournament.&nbsp;

Clarke further opined that over the years, not only Australia but other international teams have been scared to sledge the Indian teams just because of the financial part of the game.

Speaking on Big Sports Breakfast, Clarke said: "Everybody knows how powerful India are in regards to the financial part of the game, internationally or domestically with the IPL. I feel that Australian cricket, and probably every other team over a little period, went the opposite and actually sucked up to India. They were too scared to sledge Kohli or the other Indian players because they had to play with them in April."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-is-massive-hope-there-is-a-way-to-schedule-ipl-later-in-the-year-rajasthan-royals-jos-buttler-291119" hreflang="en">IPL is massive, hope there is a way to schedule IPL later in the year: Rajasthan Royals' Jos Buttler</a>

The likes of Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Finch, Kane Richardson, Alex Carey, Mitchell Marsh, Josh Hazlewood, Andrew Tye, Chris Green, Josh Phillipe among others Australian players who went for massive bucks and found takers in the latest IPL auction, which was held in Kolkata in December 2019.&nbsp;

"Name a list of ten players and they are bidding for these Australian players to get into their IPL team," Clarke said. "The players were like: 'I'm not going to sledge Kohli, I want him to pick me for Bangalore so I can make my $1 million US for my six weeks'. I feel like that's where Australia went through that little phase where our cricket became a little bit softer or not as hard as we're accustomed to seeing."&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/harbhajan-singh-fine-with-the-idea-of-ipl-2020-behind-closed-doors-291101" hreflang="en">Harbhajan Singh fine with the idea of IPL 2020 behind closed doors</a>

Australia went through a rough patch since the sandpaper-gate incident in Cape Town in 2018 but after a rough ride, the Baggy Green bounced back strong in the ICC World Cup 2019 and the Ashes and has been on a roll ever since then. Australia are also the host of ICC T20 World Cup 2020 and will be eyeing the coveted trophy in front of their home crowd. 
&nbsp;

Former Australian skipper Michael Clarke reckons it is due to the Indian Premier League (IPL) that Australian cricketers are scared to sledge Virat Kohli or other Indian players during bilateral series or other tournaments.

Former Australian skipper Michael Clarke reckons it is due to the Indian Premier League (IPL) that Australian cricketers are scared to sledge Virat Kohli or other Indian players during bilateral series or other tournaments. Clarke is of the view that players are too afraid to sledge any of the Indian players due to the huge bucks they are bagging for participating in the IPL while adding some feel that sledging Indian players could affect their deals in the cash-rich tournament. Clarke further opined that over the years, not only Australia but other international teams have been scared to sledge the Indian teams just because of the financial part of the game. Speaking on Big Sports Breakfast, Clarke said: "Everybody knows how powerful India are in regards to the financial part of the game, internationally or domestically with the IPL. I feel that Australian cricket, and probably every other team over a little period, went the opposite and actually sucked up to India. They were too scared to sledge Kohli or the other Indian players because they had to play with them in April." ALSO READ: IPL is massive, hope there is a way to schedule IPL later in the year: Rajasthan Royals' Jos Buttler The likes of Pat Cummins, Glenn Maxwell, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Finch, Kane Richardson, Alex Carey, Mitchell Marsh, Josh Hazlewood, Andrew Tye, Chris Green, Josh Phillipe among others Australian players who went for massive bucks and found takers in the latest IPL auction, which was held in Kolkata in December 2019. "Name a list of ten players and they are bidding for these Australian players to get into their IPL team," Clarke said. "The players were like: 'I'm not going to sledge Kohli, I want him to pick me for Bangalore so I can make my $1 million US for my six weeks'. I feel like that's where Australia went through that little phase where our cricket became a little bit softer or not as hard as we're accustomed to seeing." ALSO READ: Harbhajan Singh fine with the idea of IPL 2020 behind closed doors Australia went through a rough patch since the sandpaper-gate incident in Cape Town in 2018 but after a rough ride, the Baggy Green bounced back strong in the ICC World Cup 2019 and the Ashes and has been on a roll ever since then. Australia are also the host of ICC T20 World Cup 2020 and will be eyeing the coveted trophy in front of their home crowd.

Australian players too scared to sledge Virat Kohli or Indian players due to IPL deals: Michael Clarke

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'Very smartly worded and written': Michael Clarke on bowlers' letter on 2018 Sandpaper gate

Australian players too scared to sledge Virat Kohli or Indian players due to IPL deals: Michael Clarke