South African cricket captain Faf du Plessis has spoken candidly about the events surrounding the ball-tampering controversies involving himself and Australian cricketer Steven Peter Devereux Smith, shedding new light on the mental and emotional toll experienced by Smith in particular.
Du Plessis, captain of the South African team during the tumultuous 2018 series against Australia—a period often referred to as "Sandpapergate"—addressed the enduring impact the scandal has had on Smith, also known as SPD Smith. The controversy erupted during the Cape Town Test when Australian players were caught tampering with the ball, resulting in widespread condemnation and significant consequences for those involved.
Reflecting on the series and its aftermath, du Plessis recounted a conversation with Smith, highlighting the empathy that developed between the two despite the high stakes and intense scrutiny. Smith had publicly defended du Plessis two years earlier during a separate ball-tampering incident at the 2016 Hobart Test, often dubbed "Mntgate" or "Lollygate," when du Plessis was accused of ball tampering himself. At the time, du Plessis expected that the opposing captain, Smith, would seize on the misconduct to apply pressure on a losing Australian side, but instead Smith chose a more compassionate stance.
“We thought nothing had happened badly,” du Plessis said of the South African team’s initial reaction during the Hobart Test. “But cameras were everywhere, and it just got built up into this thing. Suddenly, I was in real trouble. People were saying, ‘Cheating.’ That weighs heavily on you.”
Du Plessis recalled how Smith responded to questions about the incident. Rather than labeling du Plessis a cheater, Smith described the act as ball shining, a common and accepted practice. "He was like, ‘No, he’s not. He’s just shining the ball. I’ve been in many teams where we shine the ball, we use different sweets,’” du Plessis said. “Everyone in our group was like, ‘Wow, he doesn’t have to do that.’ That was a choice where he went, ‘I’m going to choose probably the human, the right thing, versus the pressure thing.’”
The sentiment from the South African captain provides insight into the complex personal dynamics that emerged amid the controversies and adds nuance to the public perception of Smith’s character. Despite the backlash and visible emotional strain faced by Smith—captured in scenes at Sydney Airport and a solitary moment in New York—du Plessis emphasized respect for Smith as a man who has shown integrity and remorse.
Ahead of Smith’s return to Newlands for his first Test since the 2018 scandal, du Plessis’ remarks serve as a reminder of the human side of high-profile sporting controversies, highlighting the burden carried by those caught in such moments and the capacity for empathy even among fierce rivals.