Four Australia bowlers have denied reports they were prepared to boycott a Test match if David Warner had been cleared to play following the ball-tampering scandal. Spinner Nathan Lyon and pace bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood all denied the Sydney Morning Herald's claim they intended to sit out the final Test of the South Africa series last year following the incident in Cape Town. Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft were all eventually suspended due to their roles in the plan to manipulate the ball using sandpaper during last March's third Test. 'The article claims we intended to withdraw from the fourth Test during last year's tour of South Africa had David Warner been free to play. A Sydney Morning Herald report claimed the bowlers would boycott the final Test against South Africa if David Warner had been cleared to play after the ball-tampering scandal'False claims circulated in the media, such as these, which question our relationship with David are inflammatory and misleading.

Source: Daily Mail March 31, 2019 13:45 UTC