The Aporia · How a virulent series gave rise to Sandpapergate

The article details a series of cricket matches leading up to and including the Sandpapergate scandal. It lists final scores from August 15 through October 9 but does not provide in-depth analysis or commentary on these matches beyond their results. The focus is on presenting the timeline of events that culminated in the controversial incident involving sandpaper ball-tampering by the Australian team.

Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07, using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the same event (that is the story summary below).

Story summary

In August and September 2021, a series of cricket matches involving the Australian team led to significant controversy. Scores from these matches included AUS losing heavily against BAN with scores of 198 & 284 to 426 & 1/57, followed by AUS scoring only 210 while BAN scored 64 & 95 in a subsequent match. Other notable results saw IAW beating AAW with final scores like IAW 117, AAW 4/121 and ZIM defeating AUS at ZIM 235, AUS 8/294. Further matches showed AUS struggling against various teams with consistent low scores. This series of poor performances by the Australian team sparked discussions about possible unfair play or technical issues affecting their performance significantly.

Written for “Sandpaper Controversy In Cricket” on 2026-10-07, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 Sandpaper Controversy In Cricket

Sports · 1 article(s) covering the same event.

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The Sandpaper series was radioactive from the start. Then a USB stick was delivered to my room different event · 20%

The Sydney Morning Herald

⚖️ leaning not scored 🔴 5% hedged 4 of 75 📰 publisher trust 61

“Article A describes a delivery of a USB stick to the author's hotel room during the South Africa vs. Australia Test match, while Article B appears to list scores and results from various cricket matches.”

ABC News (AU) · 2300 article(s) · 3 correction(s) detected

Running correction rate · 3 correction(s)

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17 article(s) here · 0 carrying a prediction

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2026-10-04 · assertive framing · Live: Roosters and Broncos back at it in another NRLW grand final

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2026-10-03 · assertive framing · FOMO and 4am wake-up call get Pallister in the ocean

🔮 "It will prevent you from pretty much doing everything in your daily functions; including walking, running, driving, for a fair period of time," he said.

2026-10-02 · assertive framing · How Assefa ran third fastest marathon ever despite 'destroyed' Achilles

🔮 Just 24 athletes will be selected for the team that will head to China and the famous Water Cube from December 1-6 — and Forrester has put her hand up to be one of them.

2026-10-01 · assertive framing · Forrester breaks 17yo record at short course titles

🔮 Having missed a large portion of the 2025 season after a pulmonary embolism was discovered in his lung, a horrific collision with a fire truck while training in March could have cost him an awful lot more than just his career. But less than eight months later the 36-year-old was standing on the world championship podium for the fourth time in his career, claiming second place in what was the greatest possible silver lining after two years of desperately bad luck. "I'm pretty speechless I'm sitting here with a silver medal around my neck," Matthews said.

2026-09-28 · assertive framing · Matthews claims world championship silver after life-threatening crash

🔮 Australian triathlete Matt Hauser showed he was up for the fight at the World Triathlon Championship Finals in Pontevedra, Spain overnight, beating Vasco Vilaça to the line in a thrilling sprint finish. Defending series champion Hauser came into the series finale knowing he would be up against it to retain his title. A number of crashes throughout the year meant Hauser needed to win and beat Vilaça by five places.

2026-09-28 · assertive framing · Hauser wins thrilling World Triathlon sprint, Parker breaks record

🔮 That being said, Russell has looked good around the Baku Circuit this weekend, so should be confident of recording what would be an eighth Grand Prix victory.

2026-09-26 · assertive framing · Live: Piastri starts third in Baku for Azerbaijan GP

🔮 Perhaps we will be able to point to a stunning free kick for the ages as that moment in the young career of Nestory Irankunda.

2026-09-25 · mixed framing · Stunning free kick shows Irankunda's star is aligning for Socceroos

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2026-09-25 · assertive framing · Why Sarah 4.0 needs no further upgrades following year of injury hell

🔮 The change would see the referees contracted directly by the league, instead of FA.

2026-09-18 · assertive framing · A-League season start under threat with referees on strike

Also by Simon Smale

Live: Roosters and Broncos back at it in another NRLW grand final

2026-10-04 · ABC News (AU)

FOMO and 4am wake-up call get Pallister in the ocean

2026-10-03 · ABC News (AU)

How Assefa ran third fastest marathon ever despite 'destroyed' Achilles

2026-10-02 · ABC News (AU)

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2026-10-01 · ABC News (AU)

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 17 articles by Simon Smale →

AAW AUA AUS IAW INA

AAW ORG · 6× IAW ORG · 6× AUA ORG · 5× AUS ORG · 5× INA ORG · 5× SAF ORG · 5× AUW ORG · 4× INU ORG · 4× Mon ORG · 4× SAM ORG · 4×

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-07

2026-10-07 · ABC News (AU)

How a virulent series gave rise to Sandpapergate · assertive framing

Sat, 15 Aug, 11:00 pm, Final score, AUS 198 & 284, BAN 426 & 1/57 Sat, 22 Aug, 11:00 pm, Final score, AUS 210, BAN 64 & 95 Fri, 11 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 117, AAW 4/121 Mon, 14 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, ZIM 235, AUS 8/294 Mon, 14 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 7/148, AAW 2/178 Wed, 16 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 161, AAW 5/168 Thu, 17 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, ZIM 272, AUS 6/356 Thu, 17 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, INU 6/182, AUU 7/175 Thu, 17 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, WAU 9/238, SAM 0/58 Fri, 18 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, QUE 7/335, VIC 7/339 Sat, 19 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, ZIM 8/271, AUS 9/272 Sat, 19 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 6/239, AAW 235 Sat, 19 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, WAU 115, TAS 1/117 Sun, 20 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, INU 7/341, AUU 239 Mon, 21 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, QUE 358, NSW 6/359 Tue, 22 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 6/338, AAW 8/341 Tue, 22 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, INU 4/255, AUU 254 Tue, 22 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SAM 7/383, TAS 8/376 Wed, 23 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SAF 8/297, AUS 230 Thu, 24 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 6/364, AAW 9/362 Thu, 24 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, INA 334 & 199, AUA 171 & 200 Thu, 24 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, VIC 212, NSW 257 Sat, 26 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SAF 9/365, AUS 333 Mon, 28 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, INU 494, AUU 217 & 229 Mon, 28 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SYW 4/168, QUW 167 Mon, 28 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, VIW 8/293, SAS 7/290 Mon, 28 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, WAW 6/236, TAW 232 Tue, 29 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SAF 4/145, AUS 9/322 Wed, 30 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, IAW 364 & 257, AAW 176 & 164 Wed, 30 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, SYW 174, QUW 4/285 Wed, 30 Sept, 11:00 pm, Final score, WAW 7/273, TAW 7/299 Thu, 1 Oct, 2:00 pm, Final score, VIW -, SAS - Thu, 1 Oct, 11:00 pm, Final score, INA 167 & 9/310, AUA 358 & 4/173d Tue, 6 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, INA 149, AUA 274 Tue, 6 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, QUW 9/266, BAW 7/196 Wed, 7 Oct, 12:00 am, Final score, INU 315 & 0/11, AUU 174 & 151 Wed, 7 Oct, 12:00 am, Live score, VIC 244, SAM 1/4 Thu, 8 Oct, 10:30 am, Game not started, NSW versus TAS Thu, 8 Oct, 1:30 pm, Game not started, WAU versus QUE Fri, 9 Oct, 2:30 pm, Game not started, INA versus AUA Fri, 9 Oct, 2:50 pm, Game not started, AUW versus BAW Fri, 9 Oct, 6:30 pm, Game not started, SAF versus AUS Sun, 11 Oct, 2:30 pm, Game not started, INA versus AUA Sun, 11 Oct, 2:50 pm, Game not started, AUW versus BAW Mon, 12 Oct, 10:00 am, Game not started, HHW versus ACM Mon, 12 Oct, 10:00 am, Game not started, SSW versus BHW Mon, 12 Oct, 2:00 pm, Game not started, VIC versus SAM Mon, 12 Oct, 2:30 pm, Game not started, MRW versus PSW Mon, 12 Oct, 2:30 pm, Game not started, STW versus MSW Tue, 13 Oct, 10:00 am, Game not started, NSW versus TAS Tue, 13 Oct, 10:00 am, Game not started, SSW versus ACM Tue, 13 Oct, 2:30 pm, Game not started, ASW versus PSW Tue, 13 Oct, 5:00 pm, Game not started, WAU versus QUE Tue, 13 Oct, 7:00 pm, Game not started, STW versus BHW Wed, 14 Oct, 2:30 pm, Game not started, MRW versus MSW Wed, 14 Oct, 2:50 pm, Game not started, AUW versus BAW Wed, 14 Oct, 7:00 pm, Game not started, ASW versus HHW Fri, 16 Oct, 2:30 pm, Game not started, BHW versus ACM Sat, 17 Oct, 10:00 am, Game not started, HHW versus PSW Sat, 17 Oct, 10:00 am, Game not started, STW versus MRW Sat, 17 Oct, 10:30 am, Game not started, SAM versus QUE Sat, 17 Oct, 2:30 pm, Game not started, ACM versus MSW Sat, 17 Oct, 2:30 pm, Game not started, SSW versus ASW Sun, 18 Oct, 10:00 am, Game not started, MRW versus HHW Sun, 18 Oct, 2:30 pm, Game not started, BHW versus ASW Sun, 18 Oct, 2:30 pm, Game not started, STW versus PSW Sun, 18 Oct, 7:00 pm, Game not started, SAF versus AUS Sun, 18 Oct, 7:00 pm, Game not started, SSW versus MSW Sun, 18 Oct, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUW versus NZW Mon, 19 Oct, 10:30 am, Game not started, TAS versus VIC Mon, 19 Oct, 11:00 am, Game not started, SAM versus QUE Mon, 19 Oct, 1:30 pm, Game not started, WAU versus NSW Tue, 20 Oct, 10:00 am, Game not started, versus Tue, 20 Oct, 2:30 pm, Game not started, versus Tue, 20 Oct, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUW versus NZW Wed, 21 Oct, 2:00 pm, Game not started, versus Thu, 22 Oct, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUW versus NZW Sat, 24 Oct, 10:30 am, Game not started, TAS versus VIC Sat, 24 Oct, 5:00 pm, Game not started, WAU versus NSW Tue, 27 Oct, 7:30 pm, Game not started, SAF versus AUS Wed, 28 Oct, 11:00 am, Game not started, SAM versus WAU Thu, 29 Oct, 3:40 pm, Game not started, MRW versus STW Thu, 29 Oct, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MSW versus HHW Fri, 30 Oct, 10:30 am, Game not started, TAS versus NSW Fri, 30 Oct, 11:45 am, Game not started, AU6 versus ONG Fri, 30 Oct, 7:05 pm, Game not started, EN6 versus AU6 Fri, 30 Oct, 7:10 pm, Game not started, BHW versus SSW Sat, 31 Oct, 11:00 am, Game not started, QUE versus VIC Sat, 31 Oct, 3:40 pm, Game not started, ASW versus MSW Sat, 31 Oct, 7:10 pm, Game not started, PSW versus MRW Sun, 1 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, STW versus BHW Sun, 1 Nov, 7:10 pm, asserted

Game → start → BHW

Game not started, SSW versus HHW Mon, 2 Nov, 7:10 pm, asserted

Game → start → HHW

Game not started, asserted

Game → start → ?

MSW versus PSW Wed, 4 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, HHW versus MRW Thu, 5 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, ASW versus BHW Thu, 5 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, STW versus PSW Fri, 6 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MSW versus SSW Sat, 7 Nov, 2:30 pm, Game not started, WAU versus ENG Sat, 7 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, asserted

Game → start → ENG

MRW versus ASW Sat, 7 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, BHW versus HHW Sun, 8 Nov, 1:40 pm, Game not started, SSW versus STW Sun, 8 Nov, 5:10 pm, Game not started, PSW versus MSW Tue, 10 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, HHW versus ASW Wed, 11 Nov, 10:30 am, Game not started, NSW versus SAM Wed, 11 Nov, 10:30 am, Game not started, VIC versus WAU Wed, 11 Nov, 11:30 am, Game not started, QUE versus TAS Wed, 11 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, PSW versus STW Thu, 12 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, MSW versus BHW Thu, 12 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MRW versus SSW Fri, 13 Nov, 2:30 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG Sat, 14 Nov, 3:40 pm, asserted

Game → start → ENG

Game not started, HHW versus BHW Sat, 14 Nov, 7:10 pm, asserted

Game → start → BHW

Game not started, PSW versus ASW Sun, 15 Nov, 11:00 am, Game not started, SSW versus MRW Sun, 15 Nov, 2:30 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG Mon, 16 Nov, 10:00 am, Game not started, NSW versus SAM Mon, 16 Nov, 11:00 am, Game not started, QUE versus TAS Mon, 16 Nov, 2:00 pm, Game not started, VIC versus WAU Mon, 16 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, STW versus MSW Tue, 17 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, ASW versus SSW Wed, 18 Nov, 2:30 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG Thu, 19 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, HHW versus PSW Thu, 19 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, BHW versus STW Fri, 20 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, ASW versus MRW Sat, 21 Nov, 12:00 pm, Game not started, HHW versus STW Sat, 21 Nov, 3:30 pm, Game not started, SSW versus PSW Sat, 21 Nov, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG Sun, 22 Nov, 10:30 am, Game not started, NSW versus QUE Sun, 22 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, BHW versus ASW Sun, 22 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MSW versus MRW Mon, 23 Nov, 1:30 pm, Game not started, WAU versus TAS Tue, 24 Nov, 11:00 am, Game not started, SAM versus VIC Tue, 24 Nov, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG Wed, 25 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, MRW versus BHW Thu, 26 Nov, 3:40 pm, Game not started, STW versus ASW Thu, 26 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, SSW versus MSW Fri, 27 Nov, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG Fri, 27 Nov, 9:10 pm, Game not started, PSW versus HHW Sat, 28 Nov, 3:40 pm, asserted

Game → start → HHW

Game not started, MRW versus MSW Sat, 28 Nov, 7:10 pm, Game not started, STW versus SSW Sun, 29 Nov, 12:00 pm, Game not started, BHW versus PSW Sun, 29 Nov, 3:30 pm, Game not started, ASW versus HHW Sun, 29 Nov, 7:15 pm, Game not started, AUS versus ENG Tue, 1 Dec, 7:10 pm, Game not started, versus Wed, 2 Dec, 7:15 pm, asserted

Game → start → ENG

Game not started, AUS versus ENG Thu, 3 Dec, 10:30 am, Game not started, NSW versus WAU Thu, 3 Dec, 10:30 am, Game not started, VIC versus QUE Thu, 3 Dec, 11:00 am, Game not started, SAM versus TAS Thu, 3 Dec, 7:10 pm, Game not started, versus Sat, 5 Dec, 7:10 pm, Game not started, versus asserted

Game → start → TAS

How a virulent series gave rise to Sandpapergate

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