Australia’s return to South Africa for the first time since the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal has revived one of cricket’s most damaging controversies, with Usman Khawaja preparing to publish his account of the episode and host broadcaster SuperSport bringing the original footage back into the spotlight.
The renewed attention comes ahead of the opening Test in Durban, where Australia will face the reigning World Test Champions in a three-match series. While Captain Pat Cummins insists the team has moved beyond the controversy, the impending publication of Khawaja’s autobiography has raised fresh interest in what happened during the infamous Cape Town Test.
Khawaja, who played all four Tests on Australia’s 2018 tour, is due to release his memoir, Sabr, in early November, after the current series concludes.
Khawaja informed Cummins and Cricket Australia CEO about memoir
Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg confirmed to The Age that Khawaja had contacted both him and Cummins before the team’s departure for South Africa, alerting them to a section of his autobiography addressing the ball-tampering scandal.
The former Australia opener, who retired from international cricket earlier this year, has previously been reported as believing that the Australian squad should have accepted collective responsibility for the incident.
He also maintains a longstanding friendship with David Warner, who was identified by Cricket Australia’s 2018 investigation as the central figure behind the plan.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Cummins said: “Uz gave me a buzz a few weeks back that he is releasing a book. He didn’t go into too much detail, just basically gave me the heads-up that he is doing a book and, as always, no worries.”
The precise details Khawaja intends to disclose remain unknown, with the book’s release scheduled for after Australia’s South African tour.
Pat Cummins says Australia has moved on from Sandpapergate
The 2018 controversy resulted in severe disciplinary action against three Australian players and became a defining moment for the country’s cricket establishment.
Then-Captain Steve Smith and Vice-Captain Warner received 12-month suspensions from international and domestic cricket, while Cameron Bancroft was banned for nine months.
Smith was also removed from the captaincy and subjected to a leadership restriction, while Warner was barred from future leadership positions in Australian cricket.
Of the three sanctioned players, Smith is the only one still involved in Australia’s Test plans. Warner has retired, and Bancroft is no longer part of the national team’s immediate selection picture.
Cummins, who made his Test debut in South Africa in 2012, addressed the continuing scrutiny ahead of the series opener.
“Tell your story. It’s fine. It’s obviously a long time ago and all the investigations, everything was done back then and we answered every question a million times. It was dealt with then and all I can say is that as a group, we have moved on and we are very happy with the last eight to nine years how we have been as a group and evolved and obviously my focus is on captaining the cricket team.”
SuperSport brings 2018 ball-tampering footage back into focus
South African broadcaster SuperSport has added another dimension to the build-up by using its original coverage of the Cape Town incident to promote the upcoming series.
The broadcaster published a three-minute, 49-second video on X featuring the events surrounding Bancroft’s attempt to alter the condition of the ball, including the reactions of Australian team personnel and match officials.
The footage includes then-Coach Darren Lehmann communicating with Peter Handscomb via walkie-talkie, exchanges involving the umpires and Smith, and slow-motion images of Bancroft concealing an object inside his trousers.
SuperSport accompanied the video with a pointed message: “Our cameras will be sharp for this three-match Test series.”
Our cameras will be sharp for this 3-match Test series 🎥
📺 SA v Aus | 1st Test | 9 October | 9:30 CAT
#SAvAUS #SSCricket https://t.co/BrUBZZWwUF
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) October 7, 2026
The original broadcast also captured the surprise of commentators, including the late Shane Warne and former Australian cricketer Brendon Julian.
Warne initially noticed unusual movements involving Bancroft and the ball but could not identify the object the player appeared to be handling.
The broadcaster’s decision to revisit the incident underlines how prominently Sandpapergate continues to feature in the rivalry between Australia and South Africa, despite the passage of eight years.
How SuperSport’s cameras exposed the scandal
SuperSport Head of Production Alvin Naicker spoke to The Age about the broadcaster’s role in uncovering the scandal.
The broadcaster had previously suspected Australia of interfering with the ball during the series, but those suspicions had diminished after Warner stopped acting as the team’s designated ball manager.
Naicker explained: “What happened in Cape Town, to be honest with you, was pure luck. It had nothing to do with us going out deliberately looking for something.”
The crucial footage emerged when a camera operator continued following Bancroft rather than tracking the ball to another fielder. His movements drew attention, prompting the operator to zoom in as he placed an object inside his pocket.
Naicker recalled: “Bancroft’s pure mistake was putting the sandpaper in his pocket and the cameraman zoomed in. We were watching it from glorious high definition trucks – you can see the yellow thing sticking out of his pants.”
The images became central to the public exposure of the scandal, triggering an investigation that ultimately led to the suspensions and significant changes within Australian cricket.
Australia’s South Africa return carries added scrutiny
The series marks Australia’s first Test assignment in South Africa since the Cape Town controversy, placing the current squad back in the country where the incident unfolded.
On the field, Australia have established a 139-run lead after three days of the opening Test in Durban. Matt Renshaw’s 190 and Captain Pat Cummins’ 43 helped the visitors post 390 in their first innings, before South Africa were dismissed for 284. David Bedingham top-scored with 49, while Aiden Markram (37), Simon Harmer (35*), Keshav Maharaj (34), Tristan Stubbs (32) and Wiaan Mulder (30) also contributed. Australia reached 33 without loss in their second innings at stumps on day three.
South Africa enter the contest as World Test Champions, adding competitive significance to a tour already attracting considerable attention.
With Australia now three days into the Durban Test, the series is unfolding against the backdrop of renewed attention on the events of 2018. Khawaja’s autobiography, scheduled for release after the tour, could bring further details of the scandal into public view.
