3 min readFeb 23, 2026 05:48 PM IST
First published on: Feb 23, 2026 at 05:48 PM IST
Australia will travel to South Africa for a three-match Test series for the first time since the infamous 2018 tour that was marred by the “sandpapergate” scandal.
The Kangaroos will play a three-match ODI series against the Proteas in Durban, Johannesburg and Potchefstroom in September 2026 before the Pat Cummins-led Test team takes on the reigning World Test Championship winners in a three-match Test series that will be played in Durban, Gqeberha and will conclude in Newlands, the site of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal that shook Australian cricket to its core.
Australia have played a T20I in Cape Town in 2020, but this will be their first Test series in South Africa in eight years.
What happened in the Sandpapergate scandal in 2018?
The infamous series in 2018 was when the Australian team was caught cheating during the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town. Australian players were caught in the act while tampering with the ball using sandpaper. Aussie batter Cameron Bancroft was caught tampering with the ball by rubbing it with sandpaper during South Africa’s second innings.
Later, Bancroft admitted he attempted to change the shape and condition of the ball with the help of sandpaper. Australia’s then-captain, Steve Smith, later also admitted to having knowledge of it.
In the aftermath, Smith was stripped of his captaincy while David Warner had to step down as vice-captain. Smith and Warner were both given 12-month bans from international and domestic cricket by Cricket Australia, while Bancroft was handed a nine-month suspension. Warner was also deemed to be the orchestrator of the incident, showing Bancroft how to apply the sandpaper to the ball in order to change its condition. Smith’s suspension was for not taking steps to prevent the incident, having had knowledge of it.
Both Smith and Warner earned their places back in the Australia team before Warner retired from international cricket in 2024.
Australia’s coach at the time, Darren Lehmann, also stepped down from his role at the end of that series. However, Lehmann was later cleared of any wrongdoing in CA’s review.
AUS tour of South Africa
ODI Series
- First ODI: September 24, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban
- Second ODI: September 27, Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
- Third ODI: September 30, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom (D/N)
Warmup Match
- October 3-4, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom
Test Series
- First Test: October 9-13, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban
- Second Test: October 18-22, St George’s Park, Gqeberha
- Third Test: October 27-31, Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town
South Africa players celebrate as Australia's Alex Carey, right, walks off the field after losing his wicket on day two of the World Test Championship final between South Africa and Australia at Lord's cricket ground in London, Thursday, June 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) 
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