Espncricinfo

Cricket witnessed one of its darkest chapters during the Cape Town Test in 2018.

It all fell apart on Day 3. Cameras zoomed in on Cameron Bancroft awkwardly trying to conceal a small yellow object down his trousers. That object turned out to be sandpaper—used to tamper with the ball in an attempt to generate reverse swing.

What made it even worse was what followed. In a shocking press conference, captain Steve Smith admitted that the plan wasn’t an individual act—it had been discussed and approved by the team’s leadership group.

The fallout was immediate. Cricket Australia stripped Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner of their roles mid-Test. Meanwhile, South Africa dominated on the field, with Morne Morkel delivering a memorable farewell performance, picking up match figures of 9/110.

But the real consequences came after the match.

Smith and Warner were handed one-year bans for their involvement, while Bancroft received a nine-month suspension. The incident didn’t just damage reputations—it left a lasting scar on Australian cricket, raising serious questions about ethics, leadership, and the spirit of the game.