Live Updates: Australian Cricket civil war threatens to erupt as Pat Cummins responds to sandpaper claims

Cooper Connolly dropped a relatively simple chance as Tom Banton sliced one too him at backward point.

But after Xavier Barltett had him playing and missing the next four balls he finally edges one behind, where Josh Inglis takes a sharp chance.

ENG 2-38

For all the drama off the field this week the mood at Optus is a good one obviously helped by the Barmy Army’s presence as well.

But there’s more than a decent crowd in for the middle iof the Friday and there’s been plenty of support for the Aussie team which has plenty of local WA talent with Mahli Beardman already making a couple impressive stops in the field.

England have lost their first wicket as Ben Duckett flashes a cut straight to backward point.

The extra pace and bounce from Spencer Johnson seemed to just get a little big on the England opener with Jack Edwards taking a smart catch.

Joe Root to the crease in what is his 200th ODI.

While Warner was unhappy with Pat Cummins’ other former Test stars have praised the Australian captain for how he handled himself on Friday morning.

The West Australian columnist Justin Langer, who was appointed as the side’s coach in the wake of the scandal, said he hoped Cummins’ comments would help everyone move on from a “really dark week in Australian cricket”.

“I think he (Cummins) did what he had to do. Strong leaders, they stand up ... the captain stood up and Mitch Marsh stood up yesterday,” Langer told SEN.

“Hopefully, that’ll put some sort of line in the sand, because we have to move on. There’s too many people being hurt in Australian cricket, and that includes the Australian public.”

Former fast bowler Brendan Julian was also impressed with Cummins.

“All of a sudden, it goes from Sandpapergate, it goes to reverse-swing bowling, it goes to racism, it goes to a whole category of questions that he’s got to cop, and he’s happy to do that,” he said.

“I think he had to come out and say something to the people and I love the way that he’s gone about it. I love the way that he’s (taken) a couple of days to reflect on it and then make his decision on what he wants to say.”

Having come out strongly in defence of Khawaja earlier in the week calling his revelations “100 per cent right” it’s no surprise he took a dim view of Cummins response.

“I actually feel for him at the moment. I actually feel that today, the captain threw Uzzy under the bus, and I’m very, very disappointed about that.

All eyes of the country were at Cricket New South Wales where Pat Cummins spoke for more than an hour as he responded to Usman Khawaja’s allegations the entire team knew about the plot to use sandpaper on the ball.

Cummins could not have been unequivocal in his denial .

“Usman and I are friends, but friends aren’t casual with each other’s lives or reputations. In his book, Uzzy has been casual with my life and the lives of many others, and, I think, Australian cricket.

“I don’t know what’s taken Usman so long . . . there’s been some allegations this week that you have to respond to.

“I know Uz, he’s not naive. He knew this was going to be a hot topic. To have statements such as ‘we all knew’ — well, we all knew about what? For me, that’s very casual.”

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Hello and welcome to Optus Staidum where Australia’s first match of the summer is about to get underway as Australia take on England in the first ODI.

Australia have won the toss and elected to field, but all eyes are off it as a war of words continues to escalate over Usman Khawaja’s explosive Sandpapergate claims.

Whether the returm of on field action can distract from that remains to be seen.