Steve Smith recalls Sandpapergate flashbacks ahead of Australia's SA Test return
Synopsis
Nearly eight years after Sandpapergate, Steve Smith is heading back to South Africa — and the memories haven't fully faded. In a rare candid admission, Smith revealed that camera flashes still trigger flashbacks to the traumatic 48 hours that cost him the Australia captaincy and a year of cricket. The series begins in Durban on 9 October.
Key Takeaways
Steve Smith admitted he still experiences 'little flashbacks' from the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal in Cape Town .
Smith said camera flashes trigger anxiety and revisit the trauma of his departure from South Africa.
He, David Warner , and Cameron Bancroft were all banned following the ball-tampering incident in March 2018 .
Australia's three-Test series in South Africa begins in Durban on 9 October 2026 — the team's first Test tour there since 2018.
Smith, now 37 , said the experience taught him important life lessons and he has since been able to move forward.
Steve Smith has revealed that memories of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal continue to surface periodically, even as the veteran Australia batter prepares to return to South Africa for a three-Test series beginning in Durban on 9 October 2026 — his first tour there since the infamous Cape Town episode nearly eight years ago.
The Incident That Changed Australian Cricket
The scandal erupted during Australia's Test against South Africa in Cape Town in March 2018, when a plan to alter the condition of the ball using sandpaper was exposed. Smith, then the Australia captain, admitted his involvement and was removed from the role, handed a 12-month ban, and sent home early from the tour.
David Warner was also suspended for 12 months and stripped of all leadership responsibilities, while Cameron Bancroft received a nine-month ban. The episode became one of the most damaging controversies in Australian cricket history, triggering widespread public and media condemnation.
Smith Opens Up on Psychological Impact
In an interview published on Thursday, the 37-year-old batter spoke candidly about the lingering psychological toll of those events, particularly the frenzied media attention that followed his departure from South Africa.
'I'm not a big fan of cameras...I get anxious around cameras, to be honest. That was a traumatic experience in my life, and when I hear the flash of a camera, it makes me revisit that in a way,' Smith said.
He added: 'The 24-48 hours of being told by James Sutherland that I was getting banned for a year. That and going through the airport in Johannesburg getting absolutely mobbed, and then flying back and doing that press conference. I still have little flashbacks here and there of it.'
A Difficult Mental State, Then Recovery
Smith acknowledged that the days immediately following the scandal were among the hardest of his life. 'It was certainly a difficult period, particularly the initial period a few days after. The mental state I was in was not great. That's somewhere I'd like not to get to again, but I certainly learned from that and have been able to move forward with my life,' he said.
Notably, the admission underscores a broader conversation within elite cricket about mental health and the pressures athletes face when public scrutiny peaks. Smith's willingness to discuss the psychological aftermath is rare among players who endured comparable controversies.
Return to South Africa — No Fear of Hostile Reception
Despite the emotional weight of those memories, Smith said he is not apprehensive about a potentially hostile reception from South African crowds when the series gets underway. The upcoming series marks Australia's first Test assignment in South Africa since 2018 and follows the two sides' meeting in the World Test Championship final at Lord's last year.
With the Durban Test just weeks away, how Smith and his teammates are received — both on and off the field — will likely be watched closely by cricket fans worldwide.
Point of View
But the real story here is structural: Australian cricket's handling of the 2018 scandal prioritised punishment and public contrition over meaningful mental health support. The fact that a player of Smith's stature is still processing camera-triggered anxiety eight years later raises uncomfortable questions about how cricket boards manage the human cost of high-profile disciplinary action. His return to South Africa also reopens the question of whether the sport has truly reckoned with what happened — or merely waited for the news cycle to move on.
NationPress
17 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sandpapergate and what happened to Steve Smith?
Sandpapergate refers to the ball-tampering scandal during Australia's Test against South Africa in Cape Town in March 2018, where players used sandpaper to alter the ball's condition. Smith, then Australia captain, admitted his involvement, was removed from the captaincy, and received a 12-month ban from international cricket.
When does Australia play their next Test series in South Africa?
Australia's three-Test series in South Africa begins in Durban on 9 October 2026. It is Australia's first Test assignment in South Africa since the 2018 Cape Town controversy.
What did Steve Smith say about his mental health after Sandpapergate?
Smith said the days immediately following the scandal left him in a poor mental state, and that camera flashes still trigger flashbacks to the traumatic experience. He added he has since learned from it and moved forward with his life.
Who else was banned following the 2018 ball-tampering scandal?
David Warner received a 12-month ban and was stripped of all leadership responsibilities, while Cameron Bancroft received a nine-month suspension. All three players were sent home early from the South Africa tour.
Is Steve Smith worried about a hostile reception in South Africa?
No. Despite the emotional memories, Smith said he is not concerned about facing a hostile reception when he returns to South Africa for the upcoming Test series beginning in Durban on 9 October 2026.
