So now we know the answer to the question that is asked in the wake of any scandal, political, social or sporting: Who knew? And when did they know? The answers, in the ball-tampering case known as Sandpapergate are, respectively, ‘everybody’ and ‘well before the act.’

Usman Khawaja’s book Sabr has two powerful forces that ensured enormous publicity before publication: truth-telling and marketing. The former has helped the latter in an era when players’ memoirs, press conferences and interviews are models of blandness and evasion. Everything was hunky-dory, a good time was had by all, playing for the country is the greatest honour, we once fooled a coach by staying out late and not getting caught, so-and-so had a great sense of humour….the trope has been long established.