SA vs AUS: SuperSport Revives Sandpaper Gate Ahead of Test Series
South African broadcaster SuperSport has republished the full footage of Australia’s infamous 2018 ball-tampering scandal ahead of their Test return to South Africa.
South African broadcaster SuperSport has reopened an old cricketing wound by republishing the full footage of Australia’s infamous sandpaper scandal, just a day before the first Test against the Proteas in Durban.
The controversy dates back to the 2018 Cape Town Test, when Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera attempting to alter the ball’s surface with sandpaper. After realising he had been filmed, Bancroft tried to hide the object in his trousers and initially claimed it was tape.
Later, Bancroft and then Australia captain Steve Smith admitted that the team had tampered with the ball. Smith said the decision had been discussed by the team’s leadership group during the lunch break. David Warner was also implicated in the scandal.
The fallout was severe. Smith, Warner and Bancroft were handed suspensions, while Smith and Warner were stripped of their leadership positions. The episode became one of the most damaging controversies in modern Australian cricket.
Now, with Australia returning to South Africa for the first time since the scandal, SuperSport has brought the footage back into the spotlight, joking that its cameras will be “sharp” for the three-Test series.
Australia captain Pat Cummins has played down the controversy, saying it happened a long time ago. South Africa coach Shukri Conrad, meanwhile, said he would welcome some respectful teasing from fans.
The first Test begins in Durban on October 9, ensuring the old scandal gets another unwanted innings.
