South African sports broadcaster SuperSport has revived memories of Australia’s infamous 2018 ball-tampering scandal with a pointed message ahead of the upcoming Test series between South Africa and Australia.
In a promotional post on X, SuperSport declared that its cameras “will be sharp,” a remark widely viewed as a reference to the incident that became known as Sandpapergate. The controversy unfolded during Australia’s 2018 tour of South Africa and remains one of the most notorious episodes in modern cricket.
The three-Test series begins at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday, October 9, with the teams meeting again in South Africa for a Test contest that carries plenty of historical significance.
How SuperSport’s Cameras Exposed Sandpapergate
The broadcaster’s message recalls the third Test between South Africa and Australia at Newlands in Cape Town on March 24, 2018.
During the match, television cameras captured Australian batter Cameron Bancroft appearing to use a small yellow object on the cricket ball before concealing it in his trousers. The footage was subsequently shown on the stadium’s big screen, turning the incident into an international cricket controversy.
The episode triggered an investigation into Australia’s attempt to alter the condition of the ball. Bancroft admitted to using sandpaper, while then-captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner were also sanctioned over their roles in the scandal.
Smith and Warner received 12-month suspensions from international and domestic Australian cricket, while Bancroft was handed a nine-month suspension. The incident also led to significant scrutiny of the team’s leadership and culture.
SuperSport’s camera coverage played a crucial role in bringing the incident to public attention, which explains the significance of its latest promotional message.
Several Australian Players Were Part of the 2018 Team
Australia’s current squad includes several players who featured during the Newlands Test in 2018.
Steve Smith, who captained Australia at the time, now serves as vice-captain under Pat Cummins. Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon were also part of the Australian team involved in the series.
Matthew Renshaw, who joined the squad as a replacement during the final Test of that tour, is another player whose name connects the current group with the events of 2018.
David Warner has since retired from international cricket, while Bancroft has not featured in a Test match for several years.
With several familiar faces returning to South Africa, SuperSport’s comment has added another layer of interest to the series.
Australia to Return to Newlands for the Third Test
The third Test is scheduled to take place at Newlands in Cape Town from October 27, bringing Australia back to the venue associated with the ball-tampering controversy.
South Africa enter the series as reigning World Test Championship champions after defeating Australia in the 2025 final at Lord’s. Australia, meanwhile, will be looking to collect valuable points in the 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle.
The second Test is scheduled to begin in Gqeberha on October 18, followed by the Cape Town encounter.
While the focus will ultimately be on performances with bat and ball, SuperSport’s “our cameras will be sharp” remark has ensured that memories of Sandpapergate remain part of the conversation ahead of the opening match.