"Root will be enjoying this" - Vaughan on Sandpaper Gate sequel

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan feels Australia might be a bit vulnerable in the upcoming Ashes series with the Sandpaper Gate scandal once again becoming a hot topic amongst the cricket fraternity. The 46-year-old wants Joe Root and Co. to exploit that, but at the same time, has also suggested everyone to move on. 

"Dragging up the ball-tampering scandal has shown there are cracks in the Australia team that England could exploit if they start the Ashes series well later this year. David Warner, Steve Smith and the bowlers are under scrutiny again, and it would only take a poor Australia performance in the first Ashes Test for the pressure to mount," Vaughan wrote in his column for the Sydney Morning Herald.

"The captain, Tim Paine, is under the microscope after defeat by India, and while some think this could galvanise Australia, rarely are such public problems good for a team’s unity. Joe Root will be enjoying this and thinking it could help. He knows an argument or two in the opposing team is always good. But fundamentally, England still have to play great cricket to win in Australia. They should not become distracted by Australia’s problems. Enjoy it in private, but rise above it in public." 

The controversy resurfaced after Cameron Bancroft hinted that the Australian bowlers' knowledge of the ball-tampering was 'self-explanatory' in an interview with The Guardian. However, when Cricket Australia got in touch with him, the opener had nothing new to reveal. The Australian bowling unit of the 2018 Cape Town Test also issued a joint statement on the scandal, saying they "didn't know a foreign substance was taken to the field".

"It is surprising that this has all resurfaced. But Cameron Bancroft obviously feels he was thrown under a bus. He is unlikely to play for Australia again, yet he sees Smith and Warner back in the fold. Warner’s agent has warned that eventually “the whole truth, and nothing but the truth” will come out, and I suspect he will have a good book in him when he retires," wrote Vaughan.

"Did the others know about it? Well, only they can answer that question, and the four bowlers issued a statement on Tuesday saying they did not. In my experience, dressing rooms are a small place. Not many former professionals I have spoken to believe something like that would be confined to just three people.

"There might be some in a dressing room who may not like it and disagree with a course of action, but say nothing because they do not want to go against the captain. I can see how that happens. Ultimately, this shows what happens if you do a piecemeal investigation and leave questions unanswered. It will keep biting you on the backside and does not do anyone any good."

Vaughan believes that everyone should now just move on and wants Steve Smith to lead Australia after the Ashes. "It is time to move on. I would not be raking it over again. Individuals have served their time. There is speculation Smith will be reappointed captain after the Ashes. I believe he should be if he is the best man for the job. He should not be kept on the naughty step forever because of ball-tampering. Everyone can change for the better. I do not see many alternatives to him, either."