The incident happened on the third day of the third Test between South Africa and Australia.
The third Test between South Africa and Australia at Cape Town is becoming famous more for the controversies it is creating than for its cricket. Australia is not having a good Test match when it comes to their reputation.
First came Pat Cummins using his boot on the ball, then, came a fan heckling David Warner and now Australian opener Cameron Bancroft was caught on the camera, using a small, yellow colored object to work on the ball, while shining it.
On field umpires were made aware of the video footage which showed Bancroft hiding the object in between his fingers and working on the ball. He then transfers the object into his pocket. Later, he is caught trying to hide that object inside his trousers. Umpires had a mid field conversation with Cameron Bancroft and Australia captain Steve Smith.
This whole thing has given a new meaning to the South Africa, Australia rivalry and cricket fraternity took to Twitter to put their views forward on this ball tampering allegations on Cameron Bancroft.
Here are some of the tweets:
My 2cents worth - This will be Darren Lehmann’s greatest test as a coach, cos I will struggle to believe that this was all Bancroft’s idea. #SandpaperGate.
— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) March 24, 2018
Just don’t get caught. Every team does it. Just be better at it!
— Iain O'Brien (@iainobrien) March 24, 2018
And, at least use a skin coloured object/implement. Or have it match the colour of strapping tape. Then you can have it anywhere.
Suspect Bancroft is gonna cop more than a headbutt for this #SAvAUS
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) March 24, 2018
He definitely can add chafe to his list of stresses tonight https://t.co/t9QBtnWV8H
— Graeme Smith (@GraemeSmith49) March 24, 2018
The Bancroft footage looks worse with each viewing. Most teams fiddle with the ball, but few as blatant as that. #SAvAUS
— Dileep Premachandran (@SpiceBoxofEarth) March 24, 2018
After the Bancroft incident, will umpires ask a player to strip on the field to ascertain whether the ball has been tampered with? (No double entendre intended, promise)
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) March 24, 2018
I need a bit of joinery doing at the house ... Are Aussies cheap ??? #SandpaperGate
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 24, 2018
So the Australians are going to get done for ball tampering, and the South Africans are in trouble for aggressive on and off field behaviour.
— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) March 24, 2018
This series may be cricket's version of face off.
Line in the sand?? Or Sandpaper??? #SAvAUS
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 24, 2018
Can we talk about this? pic.twitter.com/cmpRrOArgD
— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) March 24, 2018