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Steve Smith, an Australian cricketer, expressed ongoing trauma over the 2018 'sandpapergate' scandal where he was caught up in ball-tampering with teammate Cameron Bancroft. Smith revealed that the intense media scrutiny and public backlash during his ban made him anxious around cameras and still triggers flashbacks. He faced criticism at Johannesburg airport when returning to Australia after being banned for a year, which he described as feeling abandoned without support.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In 2018, Steve Smith, captain of the Australian cricket team, faced severe consequences after being caught up in the 'sandpapergate' scandal. During a Test match against South Africa in Johannesburg, teammate Cameron Bancroft was found tampering with the ball using sandpaper. Smith admitted to having knowledge of the incident. As a result, Cricket Australia stripped Smith of his captaincy and banned him for one year, while also banning vice-captain David Warner for the same duration and Bancroft for nine months. The scandal led to a traumatic period for Smith, who broke down in tears during a press conference at Sydney airport after being informed of his ban by then Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland. Smith recently disclosed that he still experiences trauma triggered by cameras, reminiscent of the intense media scrutiny he faced post-sandpapergate.
Written for “Sandpaper Scandal In Cricket” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
- Published
Australia batter Steve Smith says he is still traumatised by the aftermath of the 'sandpapergate' ball-tampering scandal in 2018 and still gets flashbacks.
asserted
he → publish → flashbacks
The Aussies are set to play their first Test series in South Africa since Smith and two team-mates were sent home before the fourth and final Test of that tour.
asserted
Smith → set → tour
Cameron Bancroft was caught tampering with the ball by rubbing it with sandpaper during South Africa's second innings of the third Test between the two sides.
asserted
Bancroft → catch → sides
Following the end of that day's play, Bancroft admitted he attempted to alter the condition of the ball, with Australia captain Smith later admitting to having knowledge of it.
asserted
Smith → follow → it
Smith was stripped of the captaincy and banned for a year by Cricket Australia, and broke down in tears as he apologised during a news conference at Sydney airport.
asserted
he → strip → airport
"I'm not a big fan of cameras, I get anxious around cameras," he said in an interview with News Corp,, external published on Thursday.
asserted
he → get → Thursday
"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."
asserted
me → hear → way
Vice-captain David Warner was also banned for a year while Bancroft was banned for nine months.
asserted
Bancroft → ban → months
Australia's then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said the affair "bitterly disappointed the whole nation" and there was intense media attention on Smith as he left South Africa and on his return to Australia.
asserted
he → say → Australia
Smith added: "The 24-48 hours after being told by James Sutherland (then Cricket Australia chief executive) that I was getting banned for a year, going through the airport in Johannesburg getting absolutely mobbed, and then flying back and doing that press conference...
asserted
I → add → conference
I still have little flashbacks here and there of it.
asserted
I → have → it
"I felt like I was kind of thrown to the wolves through [Johannesburg] airport.
asserted
I → feel → airport
I didn't have any support there at all."
asserted
I → have → support
The 37-year-old returned to the Australia team in 2019 and re-established himself as one of the best batters in world cricket.
asserted
old → return → cricket
After a two-year leadership ban, he was named Australia's Test vice-captain before the 2021-22 Ashes series and has stood in as captain when Pat Cummins has been unavailable.
asserted
Cummins → name → captain
"It was certainly a difficult period, particularly the initial few days after," Smith said.
asserted
Smith → say → ?
"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.
asserted
I → like → life
"I've tried to kind of erase a lot of 2018 and what happened," he added.
asserted
he → try → 2018
"I can't remember a lot about the series.
asserted
I → remember → series
I've tried to block most of it out of my memory bank."
asserted
I → try → bank
Smith has returned to South Africa for a one-day series in 2020 and has played in front of hostile crowds during multiple Ashes tours to England.
asserted
Smith → return → England
"It's something I'm kind of used to, Smith said.
asserted
Smith → say → ?
"I've copped a lot at times away from home, at different venues across my career, and it's something that I take in my own stride.
asserted
I → cop → stride
"I use it as motivation to try and go out and do well, and try and take a positive from it."
asserted
I → use → it
Australia's three-Test series in South Africa begins in Durban on 9 October.
asserted
series → begin → October
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