The 2018 Australian ball-tampering scandal, also known as Sandpapergate, was a cricket cheating scandal surrounding the Australian national cricket team. In March 2018, during the third Test match against South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town, Cameron Bancroft was caught by television cameras trying to rough up one side of the ball with sandpaper to make it swing in flight.[1] Captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner were found to be involved and all three received unprecedented sanctions from Cricket Australia. Although he was found not to have been directly involved, Australia's coach, Darren Lehmann, announced he would step down from his role following the scandal.[2] Smith was replaced by Tim Paine as captain in all formats before Aaron Finch took over from Paine in ODIs and T20Is.[3]
 Steve Smith (left) and David Warner (right) were banned by Cricket Australia for 12 months from international and domestic cricket while Cameron Bancroft (not shown) was banned for 9 months | |
| Date | 24 March 2018 |
|---|---|
| Time | (South Africa Standard Time) |
| Location | Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town, South Africa |
| Also known as | Sandpapergate |
| Type | Scandal |
| Cause | Trying to rough up one side of the ball with sandpaper to make it swing in flight |
| Result |
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- ^ "Bancroft, Smith admit to ball tampering". Cricinfo. Retrieved 28 March 2018.
- ^ "Australian ball-tampering: Darren Lehmann to quit as Australia coach". BBC Sport. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
- ^ "Paine to be Australia's 46th Test captain". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 30 March 2018.