For seven years Cricket Australia’s skeletons lay hidden in the closest. Now, with the return of the Proteas, they are finally coming back to haunt the national side.
James Erskine’s explosive comments last week that the Australian team was told in no uncertain terms by CA executives to do anything to win following a crushing defeat to South Africa in Hobart opened a can of worms the national team never wanted to touch.
It immediately damaged CA’s hopes of repairing their fractured image, tarnished by the ugly departure of former coach Justin Langer, who was called in to facilitate a cultural makeover as much as drive high performance before being shown the door and thanked for his services earlier this year.
Ian Healy’s comments a day later only exacerbated the crisis the governing body was facing, as it gave credence to Erskine’s claim that something, at the very least, was said.
“I went into the dressing room that day,” Healy said on SENQ’s Pat and Heals.
“Mark Taylor and I went from our commentary box in Hobart to the dressing room to support the boys because they’d had a real failure against South Africa and that’s where five players were chopped.
“We went in that day, and it would’ve happened that day, where they were spoken to by unnamed people and said, ‘we don’t pay you to do anything but win’ and that was the attitude that came out, which wasn’t good.”
Cameron Bancroft talks to the umpires at Newlands after being spotted with sandpaper in 2018. AP Photo/Halden Krog
Two years later, a series of flashpoints, including a stoush between Warner and Quinton de Kock up the staircase in the pavilion and a huge send-off delivered to Steve Smith from firebrand quick Kagiso Rabada, culminated in one of the ugliest episodes in Australian sport, as newcomer Cameron Bancroft was seen stuffing sandpaper down his trousers.
It led to Bancroft, Smith and Warner copping lengthy bans, with the latter accepting a leadership ban for life.
Fast-forward more than fours year and the two nations will finally meet again in the Test arena.
How apt that the scars of Cape Town would be reopened on the eve of the series that shapes as finally awaking the Australian cricket public from its great slumber.
Six of the XI that took the field in South Africa in 2018, including Smith and an under-pressure Warner, will pull on the whites at The Gabba on Saturday, with the ghosts of Newlands still haunting the side.
Australian coach Andrew McDonald did his best to downplay the rivalry with South Africa, saying the national team had “moved on”.
“We’re not sure what’s happening inside the walls of the South African dressing room, but within the walls of ours you wouldn’t notice any distractions,” McDonald told reporters following their huge win over the West Indies in Adelaide. “We move forward.
“People are critiquing that we need to address things on the inside. We’ve moved on from that.
“The noise that’s on the outside, that’s definitely not on the inside.”
StevenSmith and Cameron Bancroft (L) face the media on March 24, 2018 in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images
World No.1 Test batsman Marnus Labuschagne, who made his debut in the subsequent series after the ball-tampering scandal, also attempted to downplay the history between the two nations.
“No, I don’t actually,” Labuschagne responded, when asked whether he thought “Sandpapergate” would be a topic of conversation out on the field.
“I think we’ve sort of buried that and it’s something of the past.
“Moving forward, I don’t think either team is really going to delve into that part.
“But, like I said, I can only speak from what I think and from what our side is thinking.”
Yet, former captain Michael Clarke, who was not shy of delivering some not-so-subtle words out in the middle, said he expected the Proteas to try and get under the skin of their rivals, who sit atop the ICC Test Championship.
“Their approach to any player that was involved in that ‘Sandpapergate’, they’ve got it mate,” Clarke said on Sky Sports radio’s The Big Sports Breakfast.
“It doesn’t need to cross the line, but you can make it very clear to someone like David Warner that the Australian fans are off him.”
The scars from 2018 remain deep.
One by one the flashpoints between Australia and South Africa were recited to Nathan Lyon on the eve of the summer of cricket getting underway.
“You don’t need to name them all,” Lyon quipped during an interview with The Roar, as it moved toward the infamous series of 2018.
Australia versus South Africa might not have the history of the Ashes, nor the intensity of a series against India, but for years these two nations have got under each other’s skins.
For Lyon, it is, in large part, because of the similarities between the two nations.
“The way I look at South Africa is they’re probably the closest to Australian cricket in their mentality, the way they go about it,” he said.
“They’re very hardcore on the field but they’re also lovely guys off the field. Some of our best celebration drinks after a Test series have been with the South African cricket team. They’re very similar to the Australian cricket team.”
How Australia reacts will be a fascinating test of character, with the subject a soft point that can be easily downplayed away from the middle of the field and in the presence of media managers.
David Warner walks off the field in South Africa. Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images
Whether they can show the same restraint if the pressure starts to boil will be their biggest test mentally since the 2019 Ashes series.
“We’re clear on the way we want to play, and we don’t want to talk about that,” McDonald said.
“Hopefully it’s been evident in the way we’ve gone about it, to the people who are watching us. They’re the people who are critiquing us.
“You should see a clear style in the way that we want to play. And you’ll see the same again.”
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You lost your humour very quickly. Which post do you think was facetious?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
That's their problem, not mine. No one needs to agree with me. If those people you refer to are put off by the fear of a differing opinion, such a person is unlikely to hold an opinion worth hearing. It's a discussion site. You can join Billtong in no longer following cricket, but one wonders why you would prosecute that view on a cricket site. What a strange contribution.
Biltong
Guest
Your disapproval means squat to me, I was being facetious.
Rusty
Roar Guru
Australia should be overwhelming favourites - with the SA national body prioritising the short form the Proteas are a shadow of previous test sides. Bowling will still be handy but batting is very very thin
Tempo
Roar Rookie
Don’t forget WI and SL who have both had ball tampering penalties since sandpapergate. Oddly no year long suspensions though…
The Iron Dingo
Roar Rookie
You post on almost every article and probably turn a lot of reasonable people off of commenting and getting involved with the site with your aggression and delusional theories, half of which I doubt even you believe.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
No issue. I don't need to agree with an anti-cricket sentiment.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Only if my disapproval upsets you. When you post on a cricket discussion site that you don't like cricket, are you surprised that a cricket fan responds? It is, after all, a discussion site. Strange that.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Hey Don, Biltong was just musing. And he sounds like a guy we could do with around here. It was something that could happen.
Biltong
Guest
Why do you question my motives? I saw the article and decided to check up a bit. Need I ask your approval next time?
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
Don't know a lot about SA apart from the bowlers and Elgar so anything is possible . As home team we should start favourite .
Takeadeepbreath
Roar Rookie
Hahaha...agree Just Nuisance....shouldn't cross that line, but can you imagine a scenario where they ALL turn into "bosom buddies" and start hugging, encouraging and complimenting one another after each significant event....for and against. I am trying to paint a picture here and it is pretty damn funny in my head anyway. However, we all know damn well, this is going to be a very lively contest. Stuck record here....I cannot wait for this series to start.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Mmm , A real case can be made that this is the best bowling attack SA has ever had . Previously we had at best two , maybe 3 tearaways working in tandem . Hansie Cronje once noted that the day Alan Donald retires so will he. Such was our reliance on AD .Any of these 4 can win a match on their own. . Previous batting top order would read Smith , Amla , Kallis , De Villiers but that’s rare . Once in a generation . I would rather enjoy the memories than make comparisons . The big difference with this team is all previous sides post 1992 had no decent spinner . Now we have two in Maharaj and Harmer . The value of spin is underestimated in Australia . A glance at Nathan Lyons stats confirms . Shane Warne did most of his damage on home soil . I agree the batting is thin but partially offset by batting deep. Maharaj , Rabada , Jansen all shaping as all rounders . Team is well led too by Elgar . May not be the best team we’ve sent to Aus but its not the worst either . Provided Australia don’t prepare flat pitches ( which would suit us more than them ) They will never get too comfortable against this attack . There is a reason the old saying , Bowlers win matches is a truism.
Clear as mud
Guest
Hohns, Boof, G Chappell - and peak period backing your hunches MArcus Waugh
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Why would you follow stats if you have no interest? Weird.
matth
Roar Guru
Forget all that, the fun is going to be seeing Australia's batting line up face a real pace bowling barrage. All of the top 5 (barring Warner) have had a pretty cruisy start to the season, padding their stats against the injury-ridden West Indies. Now they will earn their coin. The risk for Australia is age. With Warner, Khawaja and Smith all getting on, just a slight slowing of the reflexes could be exposed against 145km plus quality bowling. I expect Warner to hit at least one big knock despite being on his final decline. I also expect Green to have to produce at least one back to the wall performance after a batting collapse. It would not surprise me at all to see South Africa nick at least one test.
Biltong
Guest
Like I said, I think. There is also a matter of batting stats that can be very informative.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Last thing we want is for these two teams to go all buddy , buddy on each other ...I still expect it to be tough out there and so it should be ..Players know when they are crossing the line tho . So don't .
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
“We went in that day, and it would’ve happened that day, where they were spoken to by unnamed people and said, ‘we don’t pay you to do anything but win’ and that was the attitude that came out, which wasn’t good.” -------- I've been in charge of many school and local sports (AF, Cricket, Football & Hockey). I've urged my charges to do whatever they need to win but within the known actions, plans and rules. But implicit in my statements to the team I never, not once, meant for the team to cheat. If paying them to win meant cheating I'm flabbergasted that that happened. That that was implied or hinted at. Again what of the integrity of the squad? Wasn't there anyone who sought to maintain their integrity. I'm sorry l just don't buy it. Many of us on here didn't get state or national selection but l know many on here would also carry with them the integrity to do the right thing. I just can't see it. I just can't see it. --------- Maybe those selector's could reflect on them dropping those 2 first gamers who failed by dropping the experienced players from 2016 Hobart. That they should've dropped if, in fact, they needed dropping.
bowledover
Roar Rookie
I expect the South Africans to "test' if Australia has really moved on....