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How South Africa’s cricket authorities swept ball tampering under the rug as the country’s stars were arrested THREE times, even threatening a TV station not to air any footage.
- Two former South African cricketers found guilty of ball tampering
- Once, Captain Faf du Plessus cheated twice: in 2013 and then in 2016
- Fearsome fast Vernon Philander also arrested in 2014 in Galle v Sri Lanka
- Both were fined at the time of the offence, in stark contrast to the Australian players.
- Then skipper Steve Smith and David Warner erased for 12 months in 2018.
- Batsman Cameron Bancroft was suspended for nine months after ‘Sandpapergate’
When it comes to ball tampering on a cricket ground, Australia and South Africa are at odds, especially when it comes to punishing guilty players.
The two nations will meet in the first Test at the Gabba in Brisbane on Saturday, with tensions running high after Australians Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were banned from the game for their roles in the 2018 Sandpapergate cheating scandal.
In a report compiled by ESPN, it was revealed that Proteas team management previously swept ball-tampering cases under the rug when it involved two players, in stark contrast to how Cricket Australia dealt with their trio.
Former captain Faf du Plessis was convicted twice of the offence, in 2013 against Pakistan and three years later in Adelaide against Australia, when he used mints to alter the shape of the ball.
Former Proteas captain Faf du Plessus was found guilty of tampering with the ball twice in his career: in 2013 against Pakistan and then in 2016 against Australia.
Vernon Philander was also caught in 2014 following a test against Sri Lanka in Galle; like Du Plessis, he was only fined by Cricket South Africa.
Retired bowler Vernon Philander was also signed in 2014 following a trial against Sri Lanka in Galle.
In Philander’s case, Cricket South Africa (CSA) even threatened a television station into not airing footage of the thumbnail flick.
They ignored the threat and Philander was fined 75 per cent of his match fee at the time for ‘changing the condition of the ball’.
Compare that paltry penalty to Steve Smith and David Warner, who were banned from the sport for 12 months after Sandpapergate in Cape Town.
Batsman Cameron Bancroft, who was arrested on camera using sandpaper, was also banned for nine months, effectively ending his Test career.
After ‘Sandpapergate’ in Cape Town, Cricket Australia suspended David Warner from first-class cricket for 12 months.
The same punishment was meted out for then-Australian captain Steve Smith, as CA came down hard on the high-profile pair.
Batsman Cameron Bancroft (pictured left), who was arrested on camera using sandpaper in Cape Town and was banned for nine months, the move effectively ending his Test career.
Warner also received a lifetime leadership ban from Cricket Australia as he was considered the instigator of the saga.
Smith was stripped of the Australian captaincy but has since been the substitute when current skipper Pat Cummins is injured.
It has left many fans wondering why Warner is still the scapegoat, as players seem to get different treatment for the same offense.
The two nations have not met in a test match since the 2018 scandal, and with Australia sitting first in the tests, with South Africa third, the series is shaping up to be an exciting and close contest.
Saturday’s game from the Gabba in Brisbane kicks off at 11:20am local time, with further tests in Melbourne (December 26-30) and Sydney (January 4-8).