Steve Smith says he still gets flashbacks from the 2018 sandpapergate scandal, speaking ahead of Australia’s first Test series in South Africa since the ball-tampering affair, which begins in Durban on 9 October.
Steve Smith Admits Ongoing Sandpapergate Flashbacks
The Australian batsman told News Corp that camera flashes still trigger memories of the fallout from that tour eight years ago. “I’m not a big fan of cameras, I get anxious around cameras,” Smith said.
He explained why the sight of a flashbulb can still unsettle him. “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,” Smith said.
Smith also described the immediate aftermath of his ban in detail, recalling the chaos he faced within days of the scandal breaking. “The 24-48 hours after being told by James Sutherland (then Cricket Australia chief executive) that I was getting banned for a year, going through the airport in Johannesburg getting absolutely mobbed, and then flying back and doing that press conference… I still have little flashbacks here and there of it,” he said.
He was particularly candid about the lack of support he received while passing through Johannesburg airport. “I felt like I was kind of thrown to the wolves through [Johannesburg] airport. I didn’t have any support there at all,” Smith said, as reported by BBC Sport.
Official Sanctions and 2018 Ball-Tampering Details
The scandal erupted during the third Test in South Africa in 2018, when Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera rubbing the ball with a piece of sandpaper during the second innings. The incident, which became known worldwide as sandpapergate, plunged Australian cricket into crisis within hours.
Cricket Australia responded by stripping Smith of the captaincy and banning him for a year. David Warner, the vice-captain at the time, also received a year-long ban, while Bancroft was suspended for nine months.
The scandal reached the highest levels of Australian politics. Then Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the affair had left him “bitterly disappointed the whole nation,” underlining how deeply the incident cut into national pride.
Impact on Australia Ahead of Return to South Africa
Smith’s comments arrive as Australia prepare for his upcoming return to South Africa, the country where the scandal unfolded and where he last played as captain. For a player who has rebuilt his career and reputation since 2018, the tour carries obvious emotional weight.
Smith has continued to be a central figure for Australia in the years since his ban ended, and his form has remained under scrutiny following a tough winter. His willingness to speak openly about the lasting effects of sandpapergate gives supporters a rare insight into how the scandal still shapes him away from the field, even as he continues to perform at the top level for Australia.
Upcoming South Africa Test Series Schedule
Australia’s three-Test series against South Africa begins in Durban on 9 October, marking the touring side’s first return to the country since the events of 2018. It represents a significant milestone for Smith and the wider squad, closing the loop on a tour that changed Australian cricket.
No further squad or selection details have been confirmed beyond the series start date. Supporters will be watching closely to see how Smith performs on his first trip back to South African soil since that turbulent tour.
