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South African broadcaster SuperSport is using footage from the 2018 ball-tampering scandal involving Australian cricketer Cameron Bancroft to promote the upcoming Test series against Australia in South Africa. The clip, which shows Bancroft applying sandpaper to the cricket ball and the subsequent panic among the Australian team, has been widely shared on social media platforms ahead of the first test match scheduled for Durban. SuperSport’s head of production, Alvin Naicker, stated that the broadcaster was lucky to capture the incident and denied any deliberate attempt to uncover the scandal.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
South African cricket broadcast partner SuperSport is using footage from the 2018 ball-tampering scandal involving Australian player Cameron Bancroft to promote coverage for an upcoming Test series in South Africa. The scandal, which erupted when Bancroft was caught applying sandpaper to the ball during a match in Australia, has not been forgotten by fans and broadcasters alike. SuperSport posted a three-minute, 49-second clip on social media that shows Bancroft tampering with the ball and subsequent reactions from the Australian team. The post includes commentary from former players like Shane Warne discussing the scandal. This broadcast strategy underscores the negative reception Australia can expect during their Test series in South Africa starting in Durban, where the first match begins soon after SuperSport's social media promotion.
Written for “Cricket Series In South Africa” on 2026-10-08,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
South African cricket’s broadcast partner is using footage from the infamous ball-tampering scandal to promote coverage for the upcoming Test series, in an indication of the hot reception Australia will receive over the next month.
asserted
Australia → use → month
SuperSport on Monday posted the incriminating footage to social media of Cameron Bancroft applying sandpaper to the ball and the Australian camp’s panic in the moments after being caught red-handed.
asserted
Bancroft → post → moments
While the Australian camp has attempted to downplay the scandal in the build-up to their first Test visit here since the seismic events of 2018, the episode has not been forgotten by the South African broadcaster, which played the key role in unravelling the sandpaper plot.
asserted
which → attempt → plot
The three minute, 49 second clip of SuperSport’s broadcast of the moments before and after Bancroft was busted has been widely viewed and shared on social media platform X, just days before the start of the first Test in Durban.
asserted
Bancroft → bust → Durban
The post was accompanied by the message: “Our cameras will be sharp for this three-match Test series.”
It captures Bancroft’s application of sandpaper on the ball, then coach Darren Lehmann’s conversation on the walkie-talkie to Peter Handscomb on the bench and the conversation between the umpires and Bancroft and captain Steve Smith.
asserted
It → accompany → umpires
The incredulous reaction of former players, including the late great Shane Warne and Brendon Julian, can be heard in between overs, climaxing when slow-motion footage is shown of Bancroft attempting to conceal the sandpaper down his trousers.
“It looked like Bancroft was doing something to the ball then he had his hand in his pocket and got something,” Warne can be heard saying away from the microphone.
asserted
Warne → include → microphone
“I couldn’t see what it was.”
asserted
it → see → ?
SuperSport had suspected Australia of ball-tampering during the series, but the trail had gone cold after then vice-captain David Warner relinquished his role as Australia’s ball manager.
asserted
Warner → suspect → manager
SuperSport’s head of production Alvin Naicker said they had no reason to believe Bancroft was involved.
asserted
Bancroft → say → reason
“Not at all, zero, nothing, we didn’t have a clue,” Naicker told this masthead as part of an investigation into the scandal published last week.
asserted
Naicker → have → scandal
“Bancroft’s pure mistake was putting the sandpaper in his pocket and the cameraman zoomed in.
asserted
cameraman → put → pocket
We were watching it from glorious high definition trucks – you can see the yellow thing sticking out of his pants.
asserted
thing → watch → pants
“We could see through his pocket.
uncertain
We → see → pocket
“What happened in Cape Town, to be honest with you, was pure luck.
asserted
happened → happen → you
It had nothing to do with us going out deliberately looking for something.
asserted
us → have → something
“When Bancroft got the ball, he didn’t shine it on his pants.
asserted
he → get → pants
He started rubbing the ball on the palm.
asserted
He → start → palm
The cameraman stayed on Bancroft, he didn’t follow the ball to the next guy.
asserted
he → stay → guy
When Bancroft put something in his pocket, the cameraman zoomed in.”
asserted
cameraman → put → pocket
Australia captain Pat Cummins had little to say about the scandal in an interview before SuperSport’s social media post.
asserted
Cummins → have → post
“It was a long time ago, and I don’t think there’s much more to add,” Cummins said.
asserted
Cummins → think → ?
“We’re concentrating on the tour ahead.”
asserted
We → concentrate → tour
Australia’s most heated rivalries are against England and India but for South African fans their most eagerly awaited series since their return to world cricket are against the men in the baggy green.
asserted
series → await → green
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday.
asserted
News → send → sport
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