Australia embarks on its first Test series in South Africa since the infamous "Sandpapergate" scandal of 2018, kicking off with the opening match of a three‑match contest in Durban this Friday. The clash pits the world’s two highest‑ranked Test sides against one another and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. The controversy that still haunts cricket began during the Cape Town Test in March 2018, a series that South Africa ultimately won 3‑1. In that match, Australian player 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 fallout: Cricket Australia imposed a nine‑month suspension on Bancroft, while then‑captain Steve Smith and vice‑captain David Warner each received twelve‑month bans for their involvement and prior knowledge of the plan. More than six years later, former South African fast‑bowler Shaun Pollock reflected on the episode during the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast. "I wasn’t on air at the time, but I remember the shock when the story broke and the huge impact it had," Pollock said. "We were receiving messages from home saying, ‘I can’t believe this has happened.’ For the next hour or two, whatever was happening on the field seemed irrelevant – the drama off the pitch dominated everything.
We sensed trouble was brewing." Australia has not toured South Africa since that fateful series, and a planned 2021 trip was scrapped because of the COVID‑19 pandemic. However, South Africa enjoyed a memorable triumph over the Australians at Lord’s last summer, winning the World Test Championship final. The Durban opener therefore marks the host nation’s first home Test in sixteen months, adding extra significance to the encounter. 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 explained. "South Africa has a wonderful history with England, and the Barmy Army will be there, but if fans had to pick a scalp, Australia is it, to be brutally honest." He added that the recent World Test Championship victory has sparked a renewed appetite for the longest format in South Africa. "That win has created a bigger hunger for Test cricket here. It’s a real plus for us, and I’m sure the mace will be paraded around all the venues, especially because we’re playing Australia." When asked about how South African crowds might receive the Australians, Pollock didn’t anticipate excessive hostility.
"I don’t think it will be overly hostile," he said. "There have been a few re‑runs of the 2018 series in the media lately, which may stir up some animosity, but South Africans don’t need a special reason to cheer or jeer. Some fans might dress up in reference to Sandpapergate, and there will be reminders, but I don’t expect it to be over the top." Looking ahead to the series itself, Pollock predicts both South Africa’s contests – against Australia and later against England – will end 2‑1 in the home side’s favour. He cites Australia’s shaky batting order as a key factor for optimism.
"Australia’s batting is a concern for me," he noted. "I watched the recent one‑day series and they struggled against spin, which could tempt South Africa to field two spinners in the first Test." Pollock also highlighted the ongoing selection debate in the Australian lineup. "There’s a lot of talk about whether Marnus Labuschagne should be in the side or someone else. It’s not settled.
In the past, players earned their spots through injuries to others; now it feels like they’re just throwing names around. They seem unsettled and rely heavily on Steve Smith and Travis Head." The upcoming match will begin at 7:30 a.m.
local time, with the first ball bowled at 8:30 a.m, and will be streamed live on Sky Sports Cricket. Viewers are advised to use the Chrome browser for the best video experience. The series promises high‑stakes cricket, lingering memories of past controversy, and a chance for South Africa to reaffirm its resurgence in the Test arena while Australia seeks to move beyond the shadow of Sandpapergate.