# Australia cricket Test tour of South Africa

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/australia-cricket-test-tour-of-south-africa
> Updated: 2026-09-22T11:20:48.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

The Australian men’s cricket team is preparing for a three-match Test series in South Africa beginning October 9, marking their first Test tour of the country since the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, also known as ‘Sandpapergate’. 

Individual players continue to reflect on the impact of the 2018 incident. Steve Smith has shared that he remains traumatized by the scandal, noting that he felt ‘thrown to the wolves’ during the aftermath and continues to experience flashbacks triggered by camera flashes. 

As the team prepares for matches in Durban, Gqeberha, and Cape Town, players like Scott Boland have acknowledged the possibility of a hostile reception from crowds. While the 2018 incident remains a significant historical event for the sport, observers suggest the cricket world has largely moved on, even as the upcoming tour brings historical tensions back to the forefront.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-22: Australia cricket team prepares for first Test tour of South Africa since 2018 scandal

Australia’s cricket team prepares for its first Test tour of South Africa since the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, facing potential scrutiny and hostile crowds during a three-match series.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/australia-cricket-team-prepares-for-first-test-tour-of-south-africa-since-2018-scandal

### 2026-09-17: Steve Smith recalls trauma from 2018 ball-tampering scandal

Steve Smith has opened up about the lasting trauma and flashbacks caused by the 2018 ball-tampering scandal as he prepares to return to South Africa for upcoming Test matches.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/steve-smith-recalls-trauma-from-2018-ball-tampering-scandal

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Cite as: Australia cricket Test tour of South Africa. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/australia-cricket-test-tour-of-south-africa