The ball-tampering scandal involving sandpaper during a Test match in Cape Town resulted in year-long bans for Australian players Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, who are preparing to return to South Africa for Test cricket for the first time since the controversy erupted in March 2018.
The Incident
Bancroft was caught on camera attempting to rough up one side of the ball with sandpaper during day three of the third Test in Cape Town whilst South Africa were batting in their second innings. The young opener was seen trying to conceal the sandpaper in his trousers after realising he had been spotted by cameras.
At the end of the day’s play, Bancroft and captain Smith admitted to ball-tampering during a press conference, with Smith stating the plan had been devised by the leadership group at lunch, though they did not initially admit to using sandpaper.
Immediate Consequences
Smith and vice-captain Warner stood down from their leadership roles for the remainder of the Cape Town Test but continued playing as Australia, now captained by Tim Paine, collapsed to 107 in their second innings and lost by 322 runs. Warner top-scored with 32, Bancroft made 26 and Smith managed just seven.
The trio were sent home before the fourth Test, which Australia lost by 492 runs to concede a 3-1 series defeat. Cricket Australia found all three had engaged in conduct against the spirit of the game and harmful to its interests.
The Punishments
Warner received the harshest penalty after being found to have led the plot and guided Bancroft on how to use the sandpaper. He was banned for one year and told he would never be considered for a leadership position within the team again.
Smith was also suspended for 12 months after failing to prevent a plan he was aware of and making misleading comments. He was informed he would not be able to take a leadership role until at least 12 months after his ban concluded.
Bancroft received a nine-month suspension from international and domestic cricket.
Wider Impact
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. Bancroft saw Somerset cancel the deal he had signed to play county cricket.
Coach Darren Lehmann, who now leads Northamptonshire and guided them to the 2026 T20 Blast title, was cleared of involvement but resigned after the fourth Test against South Africa.
Without the banned trio, Australia lost Test series away to Pakistan and at home to India before a 2-0 win in Sri Lanka preceded their comeback during the 2-2 Ashes draw in England in summer 2019.
Debate Over Severity
Former India internationals Gautam Gambhir and Harbhajan Singh, along with broadcaster and ex-Hampshire captain Mark Nicholas, argued the sanctions were too severe. The late Shane Warne, who died in 2022, said whilst it was embarrassing for Australia, he felt worldwide hysteria led to a punishment not fitting the crime.
Smith and Bancroft gave emotional press conferences upon returning to Australia. Bancroft later admitted he had considered quitting to become a yoga teacher during his ban.
Whilst all three represented Australia again, Bancroft’s international career arguably never truly recovered. His two Tests at the start of the 2019 Ashes remain his last international matches. Warner retired from internationals in 2024 after his lifetime captaincy ban was lifted, allowing him to lead Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League.
Smith’s Reflections
Speaking recently, Smith described the aftermath as traumatic. He said the 24 to 48 hours after being told of his one-year ban, going through Johannesburg airport getting mobbed, then flying back for a press conference, still trigger flashbacks.
Smith said: “I felt like I was kind of thrown to the wolves through 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.”
He added: “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.”
Expected Reception
Australia have returned to South Africa since the scandal 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 incident, with some dressing up as sandpaper.
Former Proteas all-rounder Shaun Pollock said: “I don’t think it’ll be overly hostile. Over here, there’s been quite a few replays of the 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.”
He added: “I’m sure there’ll be a few people coming dressed up in accordance with the scandal, 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.”
Further Questions
Whilst Cricket Australia found only Warner, Smith and Bancroft were party to the plot, Bancroft said in a 2021 interview 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 episode is one Australia will want to forget but will likely never be allowed to.
