Australia embarks on its first Test tour of South Africa since the infamous "Sandpapergate" episode of 2018, kicking off the three‑match series in Durban on Friday with live coverage on Sky Sports. The encounter pits the two highest‑ranked sides in the world against each other, rekindling a rivalry that has been simmering for more than six years.
The scandal that rocked the cricketing world unfolded during the Cape Town Test in March 2018, a match South Africa eventually won 3‑1. In that game, Australian batsman Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera using a small, yellow implement that turned out to be a piece of sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball.
The incident triggered a massive outcry, leading Cricket Australia to impose a nine‑month suspension on Bancroft. Captain Steve Smith and vice‑captain David Warner each received twelve‑month bans for their involvement and alleged prior knowledge of the plan.
Reflecting on the fallout more than half a decade later, former South African paceman Shaun Pollock discussed the episode on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast. He recalled the shock that rippled through the cricket community: "I wasn’t on air at the time, but I remember the moment the story broke and the huge impact it had. We were getting messages from home saying, ‘I can’t believe this has happened.’ For a couple of hours, everything that was happening on the field seemed irrelevant compared with the controversy off it. We sensed that trouble was brewing." Since that tumultuous series, Australia has not visited South Africa.
A planned tour for early 2021 was scrapped because of the COVID‑19 pandemic, leaving a five‑year gap between bilateral Test encounters. In the meantime, South Africa secured a memorable triumph over Australia at Lord’s last summer, clinching the World Test Championship final.
The Durban Test therefore marks South Africa’s first home Test in 16 months and a chance for the hosts to build on that recent success. England will launch its own three‑Test tour of South Africa in December, but Pollock believes the Australian series will attract the most attention.
"There’s something special about playing Australia," he said. "The history between South Africa and England is wonderful and the Barmy Army will certainly be there, but if fans had to pick a scalp, Australia would be it, to be brutally honest." Pollock also noted that the World Test Championship victory has sparked a renewed appetite for the longest format in South Africa, a development he welcomes. "The win has definitely created a bigger appetite for Test cricket here. That’s a real plus for us, and I’m sure the mace will be paraded around all the venues because we’re playing Australia." When asked about the likely atmosphere in Durban, Pollock predicted a measured response rather than outright hostility.
"I don’t think the reception will be overly hostile," he explained. "There have been a lot of replays of the 2018 series lately, which may have stoked a bit of animosity, but when you face Australia, South Africans don’t need a special reason to show their displeasure.
Some fans might dress up in reference to Sandpapergate, and there will be reminders of the incident, but I don’t expect it to be over the top." Looking ahead to the series itself, Pollock forecasted a 2‑1 victory for South Africa in both the upcoming contests against Australia and the later series against England. He highlighted the Australian batting line‑up as a key vulnerability. "Australia’s batting is a concern for me," he said. "I watched the one‑day series and they struggled against spin, which might tempt South Africa to field two spinners in the first Test.
There’s also a lot of debate about whether Marnus Labuschagne should be in the side or another player. In the past, players earned a spot when an injury opened a door; now it seems selections are being made more arbitrarily.
They appear unsettled and rely heavily on Steve Smith and Travis Head." Pollock’s analysis suggests that South Africa could exploit the Australians’ perceived lack of stability, especially by targeting their spin weakness and testing the depth of their middle order. The hosts may also consider rotating their bowling attack to keep the Australians guessing, perhaps employing a mix of pace and spin to unsettle a side that has shown vulnerability in limited‑overs cricket. The first Test will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket, with the pre‑match coverage beginning at 7:30 a.m. and the first ball bowled at 8:30 a.m.
South African fans, as well as cricket enthusiasts worldwide, will be watching closely to see whether the ghosts of Sandpapergate will linger over the pitch or whether the sport can move beyond the scandal and focus on the pure competition between two of the world’s elite teams.