‘Sandpapergate’ Q&A: The 2018 ball-tampering scandal explained

Australia is preparing for its first Test series in South Africa since the 2018 Sandpapergate ball-tampering scandal. The incident in Cape Town saw Cameron Bancroft caught using sandpaper on the ball, resulting in significant sanctions for Australia's leadership group. Ahead of the first Test in Durban, the historic controversy and its subsequent fallout have returned to the spotlight.

Cricket Australia handed one-year bans to Steve Smith and David Warner, while Bancroft received a nine-month suspension. Coach Darren Lehmann also resigned following the tour. Smith later described the aftermath as a traumatic experience, while former South Africa all-rounder Shaun Pollock suggested local fans may playfully remind the touring side of the incident without excessive hostility.