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Justin Langer links Steve Smith, David Warner's ball-tampering ban to decline of reverse swing in cricket

Former Australian cricket captain Justin Langer has drawn a connection between the 2018 ball-tampering scandal and the subsequent decline of reverse swing in international cricket. The incident, which unfolded during the third Test between Australia and South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town, involved Cameron Bancroft using sandpaper to alter the ball’s surface, with Steve Smith and David Warner implicated in the controversy.

The fallout led to bans for Smith, Warner, and Bancroft, while also sparking broader questions about ethical boundaries in ball maintenance. Langer suggested the scandal’s repercussions extended beyond the players, influencing how teams approached reverse swing—a tactic that had largely disappeared until Australia’s recent Test series against South Africa, where Josh Hazlewood revived its effectiveness in Durban.

The revival highlights a shift in bowling strategies, though conditions may still limit its full impact on the tour.

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