Anatomy of a scandal: The extraordinary story of sandpapergate and how Australia got caught
LONG READ: Australia arrived in South Africa amid simmering hostility and left in disgrace, writes Lawrence Ostlere. But, as they prepare to return to Cape Town eight years on, there remain uncomfortable questions about who knew what
The cricket scandal known as "sandpapergate" began when Australia requested South Africa to turn down the volume on their stump microphones before the series. This request led to heightened alertness among the broadcast booth during the matches. South Africa's captain, Faf du Plessis, noticed an unusual swing in Australia's bowling during the first Test in Durban, which raised suspicions among the South African team.
South African player David Warner sustained heavy bandages on his thumb, index finger, and palm while fielding, leading to concerns from South African batters about the condition of the ball. The Australian team, sensing the tension, tried to downplay the situation, while South Africa's TV crew was determined to find evidence of wrongdoing.
The animosity between the two teams dated back to a 2014 series where Australia accused South Africa of bullying and ball-tampering. The tensions reached a boiling point during the first Test when Warner was involved in controversial incidents, including running out a dismissed batsman and taunting a teammate. South Africa also had its share of problems, as Quinton de Kock allegedly made a derogatory comment about Warner's wife.
The series concluded with Australia winning the first Test by 118 runs, setting the stage for further conflicts in subsequent matches.
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