Steve Smith recalls traumatic ball-tampering scandal: He felt thrown to the wolves

Steve Smith has opened up about the lasting impact of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, recalling how isolated he felt during the fallout and describing his emotional return to Australia as one of the most traumatic experiences of his life.

The former Australia captain is gearing up for it returned to South Africa for Test cricket for the first time since the scandal8 years after the incident at Newlands in Cape Town which resulted in lengthy bans for Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.

“I felt like I was thrown to the wolves through (Johannesburg) airport. I had no support there at all,” the 37-year-old told the Sydney Daily Telegraph.

“(The press conference) was a traumatic experience in my life and I still have little memories when I hear the camera and the flashes, I experience it in a way… They are connected in a way.”

SMITH’S FALL FROM GRACE IN CAPE TOWN

The scandal erupted during the third Test against South Africa at Newlands in March 2018. Television cameras caught Bancroft using sandpaper to rough up the ball before trying to hide the object in his trousers. Smith later admitted that he knew about the plan but was unable to prevent it.

Smith and Warner were subsequently banned by Cricket Australia for 12 months, while Bancroft received a nine-month ban. Smith was also stripped of the captaincy of Australiahe sent the trio home from a tour of South Africa.

After returning to Sydney, Smith broke down during an emotional press conference as he apologized for his role in the controversy. The images of the tearful former captain became one of the defining moments of the scandal and remain closely linked to his memories of the episode.

Smith previously admitted he felt his punishment was harsh, although he accepted the sanction and later said he enjoyed some aspects of the enforced break from the intensity of international cricket.

He returned to the Australian squad for the 2019 ODI World Cup before returning to the Test scene during the Ashes later that year. Smith marked his return to Test cricket with centuries in both innings of the first Test at Edgbaston.

Now, Smith is looking forward to facing South Africa again. Australia are scheduled to play three ODIs followed by three Tests, with the Test series starting in Durban on 9 October and the third Test scheduled for Cape Town from 27 October.

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

17 Sep 2026 11:35 IST