Photo via Hindustan Times

Sandpapergate, bans and humiliation: Eight years after infamous series, Australia return to South Africa with shadow of cricket's darkest controversy

Australia’s return to South Africa for a Test series eight years after the infamous Sandpapergate scandal brings back memories of a tour defined by controversy and upheaval. The 2018 series began with Australia as Ashes champions, but their dominance quickly unraveled after a 1-0 lead at Durban.

Tensions flared early, with Nathan Lyon fined for dropping the ball near AB de Villiers, followed by a heated confrontation between David Warner and Quinton de Kock. The series took a darker turn in Port Elizabeth, where South African officials were caught with masks mocking Warner, while Kagiso Rabada dominated with 11 wickets in a match.

By the time the tour reached Cape Town, the atmosphere was explosive—culminating in the Newlands Test, where Cameron Bancroft’s sandpaper tampering exposed a deeper culture of misconduct within the Australian team, leading to bans for Smith and Warner and a humiliating 3-1 series defeat.

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