The sandpaper scandal was a major cheating incident in cricket. It happened during a Test match between Australia and South Africa in March 2018.
Australian batter Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera rubbing a piece of sandpaper on the ball. He was trying to change its condition to help the bowlers get more movement. The incident took place during South Africa’s second innings of the third Test.
Bancroft admitted to tampering with the ball. Australia captain Steve Smith later said he knew about the plan. Vice-captain David Warner was also involved. Cricket Australia launched an investigation.
Smith and Warner were banned from international and domestic cricket for 12 months. Bancroft received a nine-month ban. Warner was seen as the main planner of the incident. He showed Bancroft how to use the sandpaper. Smith was punished for not stopping the plan despite knowing about it.
Coach Darren Lehmann stepped down after the series. He was cleared of any wrongdoing in the investigation.
Smith and Warner returned to the Australia team after their bans ended. Warner retired from international cricket in 2024. Smith became vice-captain again under Pat Cummins. He captained Australia in the first Ashes Test in 2025-26 when Cummins was injured.
Bancroft returned briefly for the 2019 Ashes but has not played for Australia since.
During the 2025-26 Ashes, former England spinner Monty Panesar said England should make Smith feel guilty. Smith responded by joking about Panesar’s poor performance on a TV quiz show. Panesar then said both of them had made mistakes, but his was on a quiz show while Smith’s was on a cricket field.
Australia’s former coach Lehmann said the abuse Smith faces from fans is unfair. He said England fans should be better and that the daily criticism is hard to deal with. He also said England fans seem to forget that they have also made mistakes. The scandal remains one of the most controversial incidents in modern cricket history.
Cameron Bancroft Opens Up on Sandpaper Scandal: ‘I Lost Control of My Values’
Cameron Bancroft spoke openly about the incident and how it changed his life. He described himself as a “deeply insecure cricketer” who was desperate to succeed.
Bancroft admitted that he felt immense pressure to be valued by his teammates. He grew up idolizing Test cricketers and held that dream so close to his heart that it made him vulnerable. He wanted to be embraced and considered important by the team. This led him to use sandpaper on the ball during the Cape Town Test against South Africa. He said the act made him feel like he was contributing something to the team.
During his nine-month ban, Bancroft worked on himself. He took Spanish lessons, practiced yoga and meditation, and worked with a charity that supports children with cancer. He said these experiences gave him perspective. He admitted that he initially struggled with depression after the incident. He could not sleep for an entire night while waiting for his flight home from Johannesburg. He had to rebuild his life and find purpose.
Bancroft hinted that other teammates knew about the plan. When asked directly, he paused and said it was “self-explanatory” that the bowlers would have been aware. He did not name anyone but suggested the awareness was obvious. He said his responsibility was to be accountable for his own actions.
He has since returned to cricket. He played for Durham in English county cricket and earned a recall to the Australian Test team for the 2019 Ashes. He struggled in that series and was dropped. He continued to work on his game and was named in the Sheffield Shield team of the year. He hopes for another chance at Test cricket. He said he is not obsessing over it but is focused on scoring runs and enjoying the game. He feels more equipped to deal with the challenges of cricket and life. He is almost grateful for the mistake because it taught him so much about himself.
FAQs.
Q. What was the sandpaper scandal in cricket?
A. It was a ball-tampering scandal involving Australia in 2018.
Q. Who was caught using sandpaper on the ball?
A. Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera using sandpaper.
Q. Why were Steve Smith and David Warner banned?
A. They were punished for their roles in the ball-tampering plan.
Q. How long were Steve Smith and David Warner banned?
A. Both received 12-month bans from cricket.
Q. Was coach Darren Lehmann found guilty?
A. No. Darren Lehmann was cleared of wrongdoing but later stepped down.
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