South Africa host Australia in first Test since 2018 'Sandpapergate' scandal

Australia will play their first Test on South African soil since the 2018 ball-tampering scandal when they begin a three-match series in Durban on Friday. According to media reports, the tourists are unlikely to face much more than a few barbs about the affair that shook the cricket world eight years ago.

The use of sandpaper to scuff the ball and aid reverse swing by Australia's players in Cape Town in March 2018 was caught on camera, triggering a wide-ranging review of the sport in Australia. Then-captain Steve Smith was among those banned for his role in the incident.

Background to the first reunion since 'Sandpapergate'

Since the scandal, South Africa have played Tests in Australia, while Australia have visited South Africa for limited-overs series in the intervening period. In recent weeks, the affair has drawn little attention in the South African media compared with the level of interest shown by the Australian press.

After dethroning Australia in last year's dramatic World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord's to claim their first major title, South Africa are focused on improving their chances of returning to the final in the 2025–27 WTC cycle.

What shape are South Africa in ahead of Australia's visit?

The Kingsmead pitch is often regarded as unpredictable but is expected to give spinners a leading role, unlike surfaces that usually favour South Africa's fast bowlers.

South Africa placing most of their hopes in a spin attack is unusual, but Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj caused India plenty of trouble last November when the side won their two most recent Tests. Spin was also a key factor in the hosts' victory over Australia in a recent ODI series.

South Africa may therefore consider resting frontline seamer Kagiso Rabada for this Test as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury. The hosts also have a choice to make at No. 3 in the batting order, with coach Shukri Conrad weighing several options, including the possibility of handing a first cap to 30-year-old Marques Ackerman.

How is Australia preparing for their return to South Africa?

Australia are also in need of a lift after an unexpected home defeat to Bangladesh in August in a drawn series, with the Ashes tour of England starting in June.

The injury to all-rounder Cameron Green opens up an opportunity at No. 5 for Cooper Connolly, or a fairytale comeback for 34-year-old Nic Maddinson after his recovery from cancer.

Head hits back at former Australia players to defend Test side

Opener Travis Head spoke out against former Test players now working as commentators, accusing them on Wednesday of "firing a bullet" through the current side. Head did not name any pundit, but his blunt remarks at a news conference came a day after Matthew Hayden — who once held the record for the highest score in a Test innings — accused the selectors of "promoting the biggest pile of mediocrity we've ever seen in a generation of cricket".

The comments on a podcast were aimed at the recall of Maddinson, who had been absent from Test cricket for nearly 10 years but joined the squad in South Africa after Josh Inglis broke a finger and Cameron Green suffered a stomach injury.

"I think the ex-player group have been quite unfair, almost firing a bullet through a lot of players, which I don't think is fair," Head said. "But that's what they get paid to do. Some of them need a job, so they target us, and that's absolutely fine."

"This group is strong enough to handle that sort of thing. Sometimes it's a shame to get that feedback from a generation of players we deeply respect, but that's the nature of the job."

Why are Australia's selectors accused of disrespecting cricket?

Hayden accused the selectors of showing "disrespect to first-class cricket", arguing that batsmen need to average 45 or more to be considered for the Test team. Head, by contrast, praised Maddinson's ability and the benefits of picking experienced players for Tests, even though the 34-year-old replacement averages just 37.11 in first-class cricket.

"We need mature people who know what they need to do," Head said. "That goes back to why we played well for a long time, and why Australian cricket was so strong then — because you brought in people like Mike Hussey, at 30, who had been tested and knew what they needed to do."

Former Australia captain Allan Border said Head, 32, would face his toughest challenge opening against South Africa's attack, and would perhaps be better off batting at No. 5.

"I laughed quite a bit, because if a traditional opener had put up similar numbers in his first 20 innings, I think he'd be pretty safe and not talked about in this way," Head said. "It's mostly a headline thing."

Smith still haunted by Sandpapergate

Ahead of the series, Smith admitted he is still haunted by "Sandpapergate" — the series he oversaw as captain. The prolific batsman was sent home in disgrace, banned for a year and stripped of the captaincy for his role in the ball-tampering scandal in the third Test in Cape Town eight years ago.

David Warner, seen as the mastermind, was suspended for 12 months and barred from all leadership roles, while Cameron Bancroft was banned for nine months.

Smith said he still has flashbacks to that psychologically damaging period, haunted by the memory of leaving Johannesburg airport amid a barrage of camera flashes, and the painful press conference in Sydney where he broke down in tears on his return home.

"I'm not a camera person… honestly, I get anxious around cameras," he told News Corp. "It was a traumatic experience in my life, and when I hear the sound of flashbulbs, it makes me relive it somewhat."

"The roughly 24–48 hours when James Sutherland [then Cricket Australia chief executive] told me I was banned for a year. That and walking through Johannesburg airport surrounded by cameras, then flying home and doing that press conference. I still get small flashbacks from time to time."

Smith bore the brunt of the pressure from a scandal regarded as one of the darkest moments in Australian sport, but he has come back strongly. He struck a superb century against England on his return and has only improved, with 10,920 Test runs to date at an average of 56.

"It was certainly a difficult period, especially the first few days afterwards," he said. "My mental state at the time wasn't great. That's somewhere I don't want to go back to, but I've certainly learned from it and been able to move on in life."

"I've tried to erase much of 2018 and what happened. I don't remember much about that series. I've tried to block most of it from my memory."

Smith has since returned to South Africa for a white-ball series since 2018, but has not played a Test there, and is bracing for a hostile crowd. The 37-year-old batsman appears unfazed, however, having endured several Ashes tours to England since 2018, where the Barmy Army fans have mocked him relentlessly.

"It's something I'm somewhat used to. I've taken a lot when away from home at various venues in my career and I've got through it myself," he said. "I use it as motivation to try to play well and find something positive from it."