REFLECTIONS on a career defined by both extraordinary brilliance and profound controversy, Steve Smith is bracing for a poignant return to the scene of his lowest professional ebb. As Australia prepares to embark on a high-stakes three-Test tour of South Africa beginning this October, the star batter has candidly opened up about the scars left by the 2018 “Sandpapergate” scandal, revealing that the traumatic memories of that period still haunt him to this day.
The 2018 Cape Town Test remains etched in the annals of cricketing infamy. What began as a contest on the field descended into a global crisis when Smith, then-captain of Australia, was found to have conspired with vice-captain David Warner and opener Cameron Bancroft to alter the condition of the ball using sandpaper. The fallout was swift and severe: Smith and Warner were slapped with 12-month bans, while Bancroft received a nine-month suspension. For Smith, the humiliation was not merely professional but deeply personal, leading to his removal from the captaincy and a long road to redemption.
‘That was a traumatic experience in my life’
Nearly eight years removed from the incident, Smith admits that while he has successfully rebuilt his career to become one of the game’s modern legends, the physiological triggers of that dark period remain. In a revealing interview with News Corp, the 37-year-old explained how modern media environments can still spark involuntary returns to his most vulnerable moments.
“I’m not a big fan of cameras… I get anxious around cameras, to be honest. That was a traumatic experience in my life, and when I hear the flash of a camera, it makes me revisit that in a way,” Smith confessed. He detailed the specific, visceral memories that continue to resurface: the gut-wrenching 48 hours following his conversation with then-Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland regarding his impending suspension, the suffocating atmosphere of the Johannesburg airport, and the grueling, tearful press conference that followed his return home.
“I still have little flashbacks here and there of it,” Smith admitted. His openness highlights a facet of high-performance sports often overlooked by fans: the enduring mental toll of public scrutiny and the long shadow cast by sporting misconduct.
A New Chapter in South Africa
The upcoming tour, which kicks off in Durban on October 9, marks Australia’s first Test assignment on South African soil since the fateful 2018 series. While the sporting world has moved on, the narrative surrounding the Australian team’s return is inevitable. Despite the intensity of the past, Smith insists he is not concerned about the reception he might receive from the famously partisan South African crowds.
The veteran remains focused on the task at hand, viewing the tour as a vital component of Australia’s red-ball progression. The schedule is rigorous, beginning with a three-match ODI series in late September before the marquee Test matches get underway.
Australia tour of South Africa 2026: Full schedule
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| September 24, 2026 | 1st ODI | Kingsmead, Durban |
| September 27, 2026 | 2nd ODI | The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg |
| September 30, 2026 | 3rd ODI | Senwes Park, Potchefstroom |
| October 9, 2026 | 1st Test | Kingsmead, Durban |
| October 18, 2026 | 2nd Test | St George’s Park, Gqeberha |
| October 27, 2026 | 3rd Test | Newlands, Cape Town |
Learning from the Darkness
Beyond the logistical challenges of the tour, Smith views his evolution since 2018 as a victory of resilience. He acknowledged that the mental state he occupied in the immediate aftermath of the scandal was “not great,” noting that the experience served as a harrowing but necessary lesson in perspective.
“It was certainly a difficult period, particularly the initial period a few days after. That’s somewhere I’d like not to get to again, but I certainly learned from that and have been able to move forward with my life,” he said.
For the Australian team, this series acts as a chance to firmly close the book on the ghosts of 2018. The two nations have since faced each other, most notably in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s last year, but the return to South African stadiums—specifically the return to Newlands in Cape Town for the series finale—will undoubtedly be the emotional climax of the tour.
As Smith prepares to walk onto the grass in Durban, he does so not as the man who was broken by the glare of the cameras, but as a seasoned professional who has successfully navigated the most difficult chapter of his life. Whether he is greeted by cheers or jeers, his focus remains singular: contributing to an Australian victory and continuing his legacy as one of the finest batters to ever play the sport. The past may visit him in “flashbacks,” but Smith is moving forward, one innings at a time.
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