Usman Khawaja has claimed that South Africa were far better than Australia at working on the cricket ball to generate reverse swing during their controversial 2018 Test series.

The former Australian opener has alleged that his team were trying to keep up with the hosts and has promised to reveal more details about their methods in his autobiography, SabR.

Sandpapergate scandal explained in brief

The 2018 ball-tampering scandal unfolded during the third Test between Australia and South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town. On the third day, television cameras caught Australian opener Cameron Bancroft attempting to alter the condition of the ball using a piece of sandpaper. He tried to conceal the object after noticing that the umpires were watching him.

Captain Steve Smith later admitted that the team's leadership group had discussed a plan to change the ball's condition. Cricket Australia's investigation found that David Warner had developed the plan, Bancroft had carried it out, and Smith knew about it but failed to prevent it.

Smith and Warner were handed 12-month bans from international and domestic cricket, while Bancroft received a nine-month suspension. Warner was also initially barred from holding leadership positions in Australian cricket. The scandal led to widespread criticism of the team and major changes within Australian cricket.

Usman Khawaja claims South Africa were better at ball-tampering than Australia

Usman Khawaja has suggested that Australia were not operating in isolation when it came to unconventional methods of maintaining the ball during the South Africa tour. According to him, the hosts had developed greater expertise in getting reverse swing, and Australia were attempting to match their approach.

The former opener also claimed that he had heard details from a South African player about the methods used by the hosts. He said his autobiography would discuss some of that information, although he did not disclose the full details in his interview with Nine.

"They were so good, and I discuss in a little bit of detail about what I'd heard from one of their players and what they were doing," Usman Khawaja said.

His comments also bring attention to former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis' previous disciplinary cases. The South African batter was fined half his match fee in 2013 after rubbing the ball against the zip of his trousers during a Test against Pakistan. In 2016, he was again found guilty of ball tampering after using saliva while sucking on a mint during the Hobart Test against Australia. He was fined his full match fee on that occasion.

I didn't get interviewed - Usman Khawaja exposes fresh details of Sandpapergate row

Usman Khawaja has also questioned the investigation conducted by Cricket Australia after the Cape Town incident. Between the third and fourth Tests, then CA chief executive James Sutherland sent head of integrity Iain Roy and team performance manager Pat Howard to investigate the matter. Their inquiry resulted in sanctions against Smith, Warner and Bancroft.

Usman Khawaja claimed that he was never interviewed, despite sitting next to Bancroft during the Cape Town Test. He believes investigators may have avoided speaking to him because he wanted the entire team to accept responsibility.

"I was sitting next to Cam Bancroft that whole Test match, and I didn't get interviewed. I thoroughly feel that I didn't get interviewed because of that, because they knew that I wanted to take it as a team, because they knew I was ready to tell the truth if I was interviewed.

"And I was waiting for my phone to ring. It just never rang, and then the penalties were given, and I couldn't believe it."

The fallout also affected Cricket Australia's leadership. Roy was removed from his position three months later, while Sutherland resigned after 17 years as chief executive. Howard also left his role in November after a review of Australian cricket's culture.