No sandpaper is mocking Steve Smith, but South Africa’s pacers are turning up the heat
Eight years after sandpaper became an unlikely symbol of Australian cricket’s darkest hour, South Africa have found several ways to remind Steve Smith and his teammates of the scandal that rocked their tour in 2018. A supermarket has pulled sandpaper from its shelves. The operators promised to closely monitor the progress of the negotiations. But when Smith went out to bat in Durban, the expected hostility from the stands was conspicuous by his absence.
Instead, it was South Africa’s fast bowlers who upset Australia on the opening day of the first Test on Friday, reducing the visitors to 124 for six before a late fightback took them to 187 for 6 when bad light ended the game prematurely.
SA vs AUS 1st Test Day 1 Highlights | Scorecard
Ahead of Australia’s first Test tour of South Africa since the ball-tampering scandal, supermarket chain Pick n Pay Hypermarket has announced that sandpaper will not be available in its stores until October 31. Broadcaster SuperSport meanwhile took a sharp dig at the visitors with a post on social media declaring: “Our cameras will be sharp.”
References could not be overlooked. During the third Test tour of Australia in 2018, television cameras caught Cameron Bancroft using sandpaper on the ball at Newlands in Cape Town. Smith, the captain at the time, and vice-captain David Warner were also implicated in the scandal, which led to lengthy suspensions and a reckoning over Australian cricket culture.
Smith returned to South Africa for the first time since that episode, but the reception was much less dramatic than it might have been.
Graham Hudson, 28, son of former South African Test cricketer Andrew Hudson, was among the spectators at Kingsmead. He felt that the past should no longer define the players involved.
“It was a long time ago. The punishment was served. It’s in the past now,” he told foxsports.com.au.
“I think it’s been blasted in the media, I think too much, and at the end of the day we want good cricket, we want competition, we want the best players to play and I feel that’s what we’ve got.
Steve Smith took to bat in Durban today to a somewhat muted reception in his first Test innings in South Africa from #Sandpapergate Graham, whose father Andrew Hudson played 35 Tests for the Proteas, and his pal Hayden at the event so far from the stands. @FoxCricket Courtney Walsh (@walshcee) October 9, 2026
There was no heckling as Smith walked into the crease. He responded by attacking the South African bowlers as he hit two sixes off spinner Keshav Maharaj and fell for 25 shortly after lunch, knocking Marc Jansen into the gully.
Two of the best hits you’ll see today Catch all the action from Australia’s tour of South Africa LIVE on FanCode #SAvAUS FanCode (@FanCode) October 9, 2026
However, the home side’s pace gave Australia little time to equalise. Wiaan Mulder trapped Marnus Labuschagne lbw for 37 off 58 balls with the last delivery before lunch, ending a 60-run partnership with Smith.
Jansen then removed Smith while Anrich Nortje made an immediate impact on his return to first-class cricket after almost four years away from the format. The 32-year-old struck twice in three balls after tea, with Alex Carey caught at second slip before Beau Webster got behind him. Australia were suddenly 124 for six.
Earlier, Travis Head dropped nine, caught up with Mulder, before Nic Maddinson’s remarkable Test comeback ended in a duck with 33 balls. The 34-year-old, who returned from treatment for testicular cancer, was defeated by Jansen.
Australia captain Pat Cummins and Matt Renshaw fought back during the day and added an unbeaten 63 for the seventh wicket. Renshaw was left with 46, four short of a half-century, while Cummins remained unbeaten on 33.
But the final word belonged to the conditions and pace of Nortje. A bouncer that sailed over Renshaw’s head prompted the umpire to check the exposure meters and play was suspended with an hour remaining.
Sandpapergate may have dominated the pregame conversation. On the field, South Africa’s pace attack ensured that the cricket did the talking.
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