Australia are set to face South Africa on Saturday at the Gabba, in what is the first time the two sides will meet in the Test match arena since the now infamous ‘Sandpapergate’ series back in 2018.
In what is considered one of the darkest days in Australian cricket history, the world was stunned when Cameron Bancroft, David Warner (who was vice-captain at the time) and in turn Steve Smith (who was held responsible as captain at the time) found themselves involved in a ball tampering scandal during the third Test of the series in Cape Town.
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Cricket Australia (CA) came down hard on the trio after it was discovered that Bancroft had been using sandpaper concealed in his pants to artificially alter the state of the ball in the hopes of invoking reverse swing.
Warner and Smith were given 12-month suspensions, while Bancroft was rubbed out for nine months. Warner and Smith were also hit with leadership bans, with the latter’s suspension since elapsing (he is currently vice-captain and has twice filled in as captain for Pat Cummins since) while the former is still serving a lifetime ban.
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The Australian men’s cricket team, and in particular Warner and Smith, have no doubt come a long way since they were rocked by the cheating scandal, but the trauma of the events that occurred on that fateful day in the South African capital still firmly lingers – like an open wound that refuses to fully heal.
The ugly events of sandpapergate were brought back into the spotlight in October when bombshell claims made by Faf du Plessis (who was South African captain at the time of the incident) were revealed to the public ahead of the release of the 38-year-old’s autobiography.
More recently things intensified with Warner, his manager and his wife (Candice) all publicly criticising CA over his lifetime leadership ban as he tried to have it overturned before withdrawing his application citing family reasons.
In order for all parties to move on and hopefully finally put this ongoing saga to bed, Warner, Smith and the rest of the Aussie team must first confront their demons when they step onto the Gabba pitch to face the South Africans again in the series opener.
The drama surrounding sandpapergate serves as an interesting subplot in a series which promises to be much more hotly contested than the two-Test series against the struggling West Indies.
While Australia go into the series as the raging favourite (and deservedly so considering their number one world ICC Test ranking), they would be ill-advised to take their opponents lightly.
While they haven’t toured here since the summer of 2016-17, and aren’t quite the same powerhouse team they used to be, South Africa has won the past three Test series in Australia and posses a fast bowling quartet which could give the Australian batting line-up headaches.
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Touring captain Dean Elgar has already declared he thinks there will be some “spice” in the three-test series between two teams who have a history of firey encounters.
“[Sandpapergate] was a very tough time for all of us, even though we weren‘t the guys who got the brunt of everything, but we were part of that and it was obviously sad events that happened,” Elgar said.
“I wish things could have been a lot different. The history between South Africa and Australia when it comes to Test cricket is so rich.
“The competitive nature is very similar. We both want to go out and win and play a brand of cricket that our countries are proud of.
“It was extremely juicy (in 2018) even building up to that (ball-tampering) game in Cape Town. It was interesting times, let‘s put it that way. Hopefully that’s been put to bed now.
“Hopefully there‘s no antics going on the field that no-one gets busted for. It was sad to see those events unfold.”
Australia are currently riding high off the back of a convincing 2-0 series sweep over a disappointing Windies team, with the top order of their batting line-up (aside from Warner and Green) looking in terrific nick.
A burning question leading into this Test is whether they will be able to continue that form throughout this series considering South Africa boast a lethal foursome of fast bowlers in Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje and Marco Jansen – who all regularly clock above 140km/h – and are expected to aggressively go after the Aussie batting line-up.
Rabada, who has taken 257 Test wickets, was one of the stars of the 2016-17 series in Australia, which the Proteas won 2-1.
South Africa captain Elgar believes each of his four fast bowlers have a unique set of skills which should see them thrive in Australian conditions.
“Kagiso’s career speaks for itself and we know what Nortje does with regards to bringing the heat,” the veteran opening batsman said.
“Also (Nortje’s) skillset is up there so he can balance two different game plans if he has to. Ngidi has the skillset where if the ball swings around he is the one bowler who is going to get the swing.
“Jansen also brings a lot of pace and bounce. He’s six foot-plus and the tallest member within our bowling ranks. They all bring something unique, which is nice to have.
“When you come to Australia you want to have that skill and you want to have the balance with regards to the raw pace they bring to the attack.”
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While South Africa no doubt pose a significant threat with the ball, their batting line-up appears to be a bit thin with Elgar the only real batter with proven experience.
This could prove to be the touring side’s achilles heel, as even without the injured Josh Hazlewood, Australia possess arguably the deepest and most dangerous bowling line-up in international Test cricket.
The South African top order will face a stern test of their skills when Mitch Starc takes the new ball, with the electrifying fast bowler looking to join the rank of the game’s elite as he closes in on 300 Test wickets.
With Pat Cummins looking on track to return from a quad strain following a one-game absence, a major talking point this week had been whether 2021 Boxing Day hero Scott Boland or hometown specialist Michael Neser would get the nod as Hazelwood’s replacement in the Gabba Test.
However, the debate is over with Australian coach Andrew McDonald saying on Thursday that the selection panel had decided to go with Boland first up over the unlucky Neser.
“I’m expecting Scott to take that spot at the Gabba,” he said.
“He’s done nothing wrong and his record is amazing at the moment.”
McDonald also confirmed that the out of form Warner is under no threat to retain his place in the team.
“At this stage we’ve got him in our plans for India,” the coach said.
“We’ll see what happens in the next three Test matches, but at this stage, he’s firmly in our thoughts for India. There have been some challenging conditions in India, but I’d imagine there would have been some similar averages from other batters over there.
“His appetite for the work in and around training is still there. He’s busy at the crease and we’ve seen signs that he is going well, but he’s just found different ways to get out, and sometimes that can happen.
“He’s eager to continue on at this stage. He hasn’t hinted at anything else. We’re building towards a World Test Championship, and he wants to be a part of it, so that’s a clear focus for us.
“I think he’s shown in the past that he can move forward pretty quickly. He’s great at compartmentalising the off-field from the on-field, and I think most of the great champions do that very well. I see this situation as no different.
“We respect and understand David’s decision to withdraw from that appeals process, and he’s moved forward and we’re moving forward as a team.”
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FIXTURES
First Test at the Gabba, December 17 to 21 December from 11.20am AEDT
Second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, 26 December to 30 December from 10.30am AEDT
Third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, 4 January to 8 January from 10.30am AEDT
HOW TO WATCH
Watch every ball of South Africa’s NRMA Insurance Tour of Australia live and in HD on Fox Cricket, channel 501, or live stream it on Kayo Sports.
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FOX CRICKET’S EXPERT TIPS
Mike Hussey
Series Result: Aus 2-1
Most Runs: Travis Head
Most Wickets: Mitchell Starc
Player of Series: Travis Head
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Most Runs: Usman Khawaja
Most Wickets: Nathan Lyon
Player of Series: Nathan Lyon
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Most Runs: Steve Smith
Most Wickets: Nathan Lyon
Player of Series: Steve Smith
Isa Guha
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Most Runs: Usman Khawaja
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Player of Series: Pat Cummins
Gilly
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Most Runs: Steve Smith
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Player of Series: Steve Smith
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ODDS
Courtesy of Sportsbet
First Test Result – Australia $1.41 Draw $6 South Africa $5.30
Series Result – Australia $1.45 Draw $5.50 South Africa $5
SQUADS FOR OPENING TEST
Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Lance Morris, Michael Neser, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner.
South Africa: Dean Elgar (c), Temba Bavuma, Gerald Coetzee, Theunis de Bruyn, Sarel Erwee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Glenton Stuurman, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne,Khaya Zondo.
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PREDICTED STARTING XI FOR FIRST TEST
Australia: 1. David Warner 2. Usman Khawaja 3. Marnus Labuschagne 4. Steve Smith 5. Travis Head 6. Cameron Green 7. Alex Carey (wk) 8. Pat Cummins (c) 9. Mitchell Starc 10. Nathan Lyon 11. Scott Boland; 12th man: Michael Neser.
South Africa: 1. Sarel Erwee 2. Dean Elgar (c) 3. Rassie van der Dussen 4. Temba Bavuma 5. Theunis de Bruyn 6. Kyle Verreynne (wk) 7. Marco Jansen 8. Keshav Maharaj 9. Kagiso Rabada 10. Anrich Nortje 11. Lungi Ngidi; 12th man: Khaya Zondo.
