Stories
How Australia Got Caught In The Infamous Sandpapergate Scandal By Pure Fluke
- •Alvin Naicker, the person in charge of the broadcast during the 2018 Cape Town Test, revealed that Australia getting caught was an absolute fluke.
- •The cameraman coincidentally stayed on Cameron Bancroft instead of cutting away during a dead ball, zooming in with a powerful lens to catch the action.
- •Production staff used slow-motion replay to spot the yellow sandpaper and broadcasted it on the big screen, exposing the conspiracy.
- •The scandal resulted in 12-month bans for Steve Smith and David Warner, alongside a nine-month ban for Cameron Bancroft.
Key Questions Answered
Alvin Naicker, who was in charge of the broadcast, revealed that catching Australia was an absolute fluke. A cameraman happened to stay on Cameron Bancroft as he rubbed the ball on his palm and put his hand in his pocket, allowing the crew to zoom in with big lenses, spot the yellow paper, and replay it.
Steve Smith is the only survivor of the contentious 2018 tour still playing for Australia in the current Test series against South Africa. David Warner has retired from international cricket, and Cameron Bancroft is no longer in Australia's plans.
Following the scandal, Steve Smith and David Warner were each handed 12-month bans from local and international cricket, with Warner also barred from leadership roles. Cameron Bancroft received a nine-month ban from both domestic and international cricket, while Smith additionally lost his captaincy.
