Stuart MacGill reveals use of sandpaper in cricket prior to 2018 scandal

Former Australian spinner Stuart MacGill disclosed that he used sandpaper on his thumb to alter the condition of cricket balls during his playing career, well before the notorious 2018 Sandpapergate incident. He described a method where he would roughen the ball after tea while running to retrieve it, ensuring no trace of the sandpaper remained. MacGill's revelations, which include modifications made during matches in the late 1990s and 2000s, challenge perceptions that ball tampering in Australian cricket started only in 2018. His comments coincide with ongoing discussions about the impact of ball tampering on the sport's integrity and raise questions about practices within cricket before the scandal became public.

• 7:17 AMYahoo Sports — Australia used sandpaper even before 2018? Former Aussie spinner Stuart Macgill reveals how he used to rough up balls during matches