Steve Smith has spoken openly about the lasting psychological impact of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal that occurred during Australia’s Test series in South Africa. The incident, which became known as "Sandpapergate," saw Smith and then vice-captain David Warner suspended from international cricket for one year after Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera using sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball, aiming to gain an unfair advantage.

Smith, now 37, described the immediate aftermath of the scandal as a deeply traumatic period in his life. He recalled being overwhelmed by media attention while leaving Johannesburg airport and issuing a tearful apology during a press conference on his return to Sydney. Smith said he felt unsupported during those initial days and likened his experience at the airport to being "thrown to the wolves." He revealed that even years later, flashes of those moments occasionally resurface, particularly triggered by camera flashes, which heighten his anxiety.

“The 24 to 48 hours after being told by Cricket Australia’s then-chief executive James Sutherland about my suspension were extremely difficult,” Smith told CODE Sports. “Going through the airport and being mobbed, then flying back and facing the press conference... I still have little flashbacks here and there of it. The mental state I was in was not great.” Despite the ordeal, he said he learned from the experience and has worked to move forward with his career and personal life.

Since serving his ban, Smith has been reintegrated into the national team and leadership group. He was appointed Australia’s Test vice-captain prior to the 2021-22 Ashes series and has acted as stand-in captain when traditional captain Pat Cummins has been unavailable. Meanwhile, David Warner retired from international cricket following the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Smith is expected to participate in Australia’s upcoming Test tour of South Africa, their first since the contentious 2018 series. The first Test is scheduled to begin in Durban on October 9, preceded by three One-Day Internationals. Smith has also expressed uncertainty about his future participation in Australia’s next Ashes campaign in England, describing his selection as a “series-by-series proposition.”

The ball-tampering episode remains one of the most significant controversies in recent cricket history, and Smith’s reflections underscore the personal toll it took on those involved, even as he continues to contribute at the highest level of the sport.