Watch: SA broadcaster trolls Australia with sandpaper jibe

Australia will face South Africa in a three-Test series, starting in Durban on Friday, October 9. The series marks Australia’s first Test tour of South Africa since the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, which remains one of the biggest controversies in cricket.

SuperSport was closely linked to that incident as its cameras captured Cameron Bancroft using a small yellow object on the ball during the Newlands Test in March 2018. The footage led to the Sandpaper scandal and resulted in major bans for several Australian players.

Ahead of the first Test, SuperSport posted a short promo on X with the line, “Our cameras will be sharp,” taking a light-hearted dig at the infamous incident. The post quickly caught attention ahead of the much-anticipated series.

Watch the viral video here:

What the South African broadcaster said: The 'sharp cameras' Jibe explained

SuperSport posted the promo on X with a camera emoji and wrote, “Our cameras will be sharp for this 3-match Test series.” The broadcaster also shared details of the first Test, which is scheduled to begin on October 9 at 1:00 PM IST.

The joke is based on the word “sharp”, with SuperSport making no direct mention of sandpaper, Newlands or Cameron Bancroft. However, cricket fans who remember the 2018 ball-tampering scandal quickly understood the reference. The first Test of the series will start at 1:00 PM IST in India.

The comment also has a real connection to the 2018 controversy. SuperSport’s cameras captured Bancroft using a small yellow object on the ball during the Test in Cape Town. That footage became a key part of the scandal, making the broadcaster’s latest “sharp cameras” comment a clear reference to its role in the infamous incident.

Sandpaper-gate flashback: How the Cape Town 2018 scandal unfolded

The Sandpaper-gate scandal refers to the ball-tampering incident during the third Test between South Africa and Australia at Newlands in Cape Town in March 2018. The series was level at 1-1 when the Test began on March 22. On March 24, TV cameras showed Cameron Bancroft using a small yellow object on the ball after the 43rd over of South Africa’s second innings. He later admitted that he had used yellow tape and grit, but it was revealed that the object was sandpaper. Australia lost the Test by 322 runs and South Africa won the four-match series 3-1.

Bancroft was playing only his eighth Test when he carried out the plan. After the incident was shown on the big screen, coach Darren Lehmann sent a message to 12th man Peter Handscomb, who ran out to speak to Bancroft. Bancroft then hid the object in his trousers and showed the umpires a sunglasses bag. After the day’s play, captain Steve Smith admitted that the leadership group had discussed the plan. Cricket Australia’s investigation later found that David Warner had developed the plan, while Smith, Warner and Bancroft were the only members of the touring party who knew about it.

The scandal led to major consequences for Australian cricket. Smith and Warner were banned, while Bancroft also received a suspension for his role in the incident. Lehmann was cleared of any involvement but announced that he would step down as Australia’s coach after the fourth Test. Several players from the 2018 tour are still connected to the current Australian squad, including Smith, who is now Pat Cummins’ vice-captain, along with Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Matthew Renshaw, who joined the squad as a replacement during that series, is also back in the team. The scandal has received less attention in South African media in recent weeks than in Australia.

SA vs AUS 1st Test: Date, venue, squads and live streaming in India

South Africa and Australia are set to face each other in the first Test of the series at Kingsmead in Durban. Here is all the key information about the match, including the predicted playing XIs, full squads, date, venue, time and live streaming details.

South Africa predicted playing XI

Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Marques Ackerman, Temba Bavuma (capt.), Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje

Australia predicted playing XI

Matthew Renshaw, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins (capt.), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

South Africa full squad

Temba Bavuma (capt.), Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Marques Ackerman, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, David Paterson, Corbin Bosch, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Kyle Verreynne, Neil Brand, Gerald Coetzee

Australia full squad

Pat Cummins (capt.), Travis Head, Matthew Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, Michael Neser, Matt Kuhnemann

SA vs AUS 1st Test: Date, venue and live streaming

Date: October 9 to 13
Venue: Kingsmead, Durban
Time: 1:00 PM IST
Live Streaming: FanCode

The first Test will be played at Kingsmead in Durban, with the match scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM IST each day. Fans in India can watch the match live on FanCode.