Sandpapergate to Ashes

Vishal Uppal takes a dig on the event that rocked Australian Cricket in 2018 and the exhilarating comeback of banned players in 2019. 

Australian Cricket has always been in limelight for wrong reasons. Australian Cricket formed commercial relationships with betting agencies. They have been accused of match fixing in International matches. Finally, sledging and ball tampering have stained the team on moral pedestal. Sledging matters, as Australian players take it to the point where adherence to code of ethics becomes questionable.  Cheating is not unusual in sports but it brings disgrace and serious consequences if proven with evidence. Australian Cricket experienced exactly the same in early part of 2018. It was hit hard by ball tampering scandal that later came to be known as Sandpapergate scandal. Cameron Bancroft was caught rubbing the ball with sandpaper during a test match with South Africa. The moment was captured by television cameras in vivid details. The live broadcast was for everyone to see. Captain Steve Smith and Vice-captain David Warner were identified for having prior knowledge of tampering. Steve Smith and David Warner faced a ban of twelve months from International Cricket. Bancroft, who applied the sandpaper to the ball, faced nine month suspension from the sport. Not only did they lose grace, they also lost commercial and playing contracts. The names of three players didn’t appeared in national contracts for 2018-19 and they were banned from playing 2018 edition of IPL, which otherwise would have ensured sum of 2 to 3 million dollars for the players.

Tampering has happened before and several star bowlers have been known to do it with one way or the other. But the cameras catching the tiny piece of sandpaper tainted the reputation of revered Australian cricketers. The prime minister of Australia had to offer a statement on the scandal.

The silver lining to such events is the learning. All the three players have made the Test returns with the first Ashes Test Match that took place in Edgbaston from August 1 to 5. After a great performance in ICC World Cup 2019, it was a dream comeback for Steve Smith. He scored 144 in first innings and 142 in second innings. Steve said that “It’s incredibly special. It feels like Christmas morning every morning getting to come and do this” . But it was not all good in the beginning. The players were booed by audience in several world cup matches. We saw Virat Kohli urging fans to stop booing Steve Smith in the match between India and Australia in ICC World Cup 2019. The gesture later became a headline in the sport. Though, we have yet to see some miracle from David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, the next four matches in Ashes series can unfold the openers doing some excellent batting.