Sandpapergate: 2018 ball-tampering scandal explained as Australia return to South Africa for Test cricket

​​​It was the ball-tampering scandal that rocked world - and particularly Australian - cricket.

For the first time since 'Sandpapergate', which resulted in Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft receiving bans for the roles they played in the plot to alter the condition of the ball, Australia are preparing for a Test series in South Africa.

Ahead of the first Test in Durban from Friday, live on Sky Sports from 7.30am (8.30am first ball), here is an explainer of what transpired in Cape Town and its subsequent fallout…

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What was 'Sandpapergate'?

That was the name given to the March 2018 ball-tampering scandal during Australia's Test tour of South Africa after Bancroft was caught on camera trying to rough up one side of the ball with sandpaper in order the make it swing through the air.

The incident occurred on day three of the third Test in Cape Town while South Africa were batting in their second innings, with Bancroft aiming to hide the sandpaper, which he initially said was a piece of tape, in his trousers after realising he had been spotted.

At the end of the day's play, Bancroft and Australia captain Smith admitted to ball-tampering in a press conference - albeit not to the use of sandpaper at that stage - with Smith saying the plan had been cooked up by the 'leadership group' at lunch.

What happened next?

Smith and vice-captain Warner stood down from their leadership roles for the remainder of the Cape Town Test but still took to the field as the Baggy Greens, now captained by Tim Paine, slumped to a 322-run defeat after being rolled for just 107 in their second innings - Warner top-scoring with 32, Bancroft making 26 and Smith seven.

Smith, Warner and Bancroft were sent home ahead of the fourth Test, in which Australia were hammered by 492 runs to fall to a 3-1 series defeat, and later received hefty bans from international and domestic cricket, ranging from nine months to a year.

They were each found by Cricket Australia to have engaged in conduct against the spirit of the game and harmful to its interests.

What were the exact punishments?

Warner was found to have led the plot to alter the condition of the ball, including guiding Bancroft on how to use the sandpaper.

He was slapped with a one-year ban and told he would never be considered for a leadership position within the team again.

Smith - who would go on to be succeeded permanently by Paine as captain - was also suspended for 12 months after failing to prevent a plan he was aware of and making misleading comments.

He was also informed he would not be able to take a leadership role until at least 12 months after the conclusion of his ban.

Bancroft was suspended for nine months.

What else did the players lose?

Smith and Warner were removed from the 2018 IPL, where they were due to play for - and initially captain - Rajasthan Royals and SunRisers Hyderabad respectively, while Bancroft saw Somerset cancel the deal he had signed to play county cricket.

Australia coach Darren Lehmann was among the collateral damage.

Lehmann - now coaching Northamptonshire in county cricket, leading the Steelbacks to the 2026 T20 Blast title - was cleared of any involvement in the ball-tampering scandal but opted to resign after the fourth and final Test against South Africa.

Without Smith, Warner and Bancroft, Australia would go on to lose Test series away to Pakistan and at home to India, before a 2-0 win in Sri Lanka preceded their comeback series - the 2-2 Ashes draw in England in the summer of 2019.

Were the ball-tampering bans too harsh?

Some argued that the sanctions meted out were too severe, including former India internationals Gautam Gambhir and Harbhajan Singh and broadcaster and ex-Hampshire captain Mark Nicholas - a view shared by the late, great Shane Warne.

Leg-spin legend Warne, who died in 2022, said while it was "embarrassing" for Australia to be caught up in the scandal, he felt worldwide "hysteria" led to a punishment "not fitting the crime".

Smith and Bancroft gave emotional press conferences on their returns to Australia after being sent home, while Bancroft later admitted he had considered quitting and becoming a yoga teacher during his enforced break from the game.

While all three players went on to represent Australia again - Smith is still doing so - Bancroft's international career arguably never truly recovered with the opener's two Tests at the start of the 2019 Ashes his, at this point, last international matches.

Warner, who retired from internationals in 2024, applied to have his lifetime captaincy ban lifted but then revoked that in 2022.

The suspension was ultimately lifted and he went on to lead Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League.

How does Smith reflect on 'Sandpapergate'?

Speaking to News Corp recently, Smith said: "That was a traumatic experience in my life and when I hear the flash of a camera it makes me revisit that, in a way.

"The 24-48 hours after being told I was getting banned for a year, going through the airport in Johannesburg getting absolutely mobbed, and then flying back and doing a press conference... I still have little flashbacks here and there of it.

"I felt like I was kind of thrown to the wolves through [Johannesburg] airport. I didn't have any support there at all.

"It was certainly a difficult period, particularly the initial few days after. The mental state I was in was not great.

"That's somewhere I'd like not to get to again, but I certainly learned from that and have been able to move forward with my life.

"I've tried to kind of erase a lot of 2018 and what happened. I can't remember a lot about the series. I've tried to block most of it out of my memory bank."

What reactions can Australia expect in South Africa?

Australia have returned to South Africa since 'Sandpapergate' but only for white-ball cricket with a proposed Test tour in 2021 cancelled due to Covid-19.

England fans regularly teased their Ashes rivals after the ball-tampering scandal, with some dressing up as sandpaper to make their point, so what sort of response can Smith and the current players expects from South Africa supporters?

Former Proteas all-rounder Shaun Pollock told the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast: "I don't think it'll be overly hostile.

"Over here, there's been quite a few replays of the [2018] series over the last few weeks, just to create a bit of animosity, I suppose, but when you play against Australia, people in South Africa won't need a reason to have a go at them about some particular reason.

"I'm sure there'll be a few people coming dressed up in accordance with 'Sandpapergate', I'm sure there'll be some continual reminding of it, but I don't think it'll be over the top or too intense."

Finally, is there any more to come out over 'Sandpapergate'?

Who knows?

While Cricket Australia found only Warner, Smith and Bancroft were party to the plot, Bancroft said in an interview in 2021 that it was "self-explanatory" bowlers in the team had to be aware the ball was being meddled with.

Cricket Australia said they were open to investigating any new information brought to light.

The whole episode is one Australia will want to forget but will likely never be allowed to.

Watch the first Test between South Africa and Australia live on Sky Sports Cricket from Friday (7.30am on air, 8.30am first ball). Get the latest Sky Sports deals or stream with no contract.

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