- Faf du Plessis to Steven Smith: “You didn’t do anything wrong, just be strong.” The Sandpergate series was bitter, but both clans had compassion for each other. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, all smiling after dismissing Pat Cummins. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, all smiling after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia. World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 4 or 5, but the final decision is left to Australia. Green has not played since suffering an abdominal injury in the last ODI against South Africa on September 30 and he will not be able to take part in the final Test. Australia have lost two of their last four Tests by narrow margins and the lack of partnerships – or more than one stand-up batter at any given time – has hurt them the most. Travis Head struggled the most for Australia after their follow-up match, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026. Lyon was left out of the XI for Australia’s second Test for the third time in eight Tests, but Ctain Cummins says his name will remain “at the forefront” of discussions before decision-makers Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland exit after keeping India at bay for 110 balls, Australia v India, 4th Test, Melbourne, Day 4, December 29, 2024 Gerald Coetzee, Corbin Bosch and Dane Paterson will be in the conversation when South Africa to field fast bowler in place of Anrich Nortje in Ce Town Test First Hour, South Africa v Australia, 1st Test, Day 2, Durban, October 10, 2026 With his body in free fall and two defiant tailenders at the crease, the fast bowler put everything on the line to give Australia an unforgettable victory at Ce Town 2014. A concussion, a problematic neck and low results – Steven Smith will want to turn things around at Newlands, the scene of the Sandpergate scandal. Steven Smith’s neck required medical attention after surviving a close encounter in the 27th over, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21. 2026 Simon Harmer celebrates a wicket, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Harry Brook walks away after scoring 202 from 116 balls England v Sri Lanka, Tri Series, October 22, 2026 Janith Liyanage celebrates with teammates after hitting a six to win the game on the penultimate ball. Janith Liyanage celebrates with teammates after hitting six to win the game on the penultimate ball, England v Sri Lanka, Tri-Series, October 22, 2026 Harry Brook put himself in illustrious company at Pindi – but the only statistic that mattered was his team’s defeat. Will Jacks congratulates Harry Brook on his double century, England v Sri Lanka, Tri-Series, October 22, 2026 The last time Steven Smith was in Ce Town for a Test, he pleaded guilty in front of the press, was charged with ball-tampering and was furious. From the resulting audience, he received support from an unexpected source – his rival on the show, Faf du Plessis.
- As du Plessis talks about Smith in a new video series called “Cricketers on Cricketers,” he recalls feeling sympathy for the Australian group that du Plessis himself had supported when he was found guilty of ball-tampering using leftover candy in Hobart in 2016.
- “At the end of the day [in Ce Town in 2018], Steve said, ‘I take responsibility.’ And we said to each other, “Why are you taking responsibility?”
Faf du Plessis to Steven Smith: “You didn’t do anything wrong, just be strong.” The Sandpergate series was bitter, but both clans had compassion for each other. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, all smiling after dismissing Pat Cummins. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, all smiling after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia. World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 4 or 5, but the final decision is left to Australia. Green has not played since suffering an abdominal injury in the last ODI against South Africa on September 30 and he will not be able to take part in the final Test. Australia have lost two of their last four Tests by narrow margins and the lack of partnerships – or more than one stand-up batter at any given time – has hurt them the most. Travis Head struggled the most for Australia after their follow-up match, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026. Lyon was left out of the XI for Australia’s second Test for the third time in eight Tests, but Ctain Cummins says his name will remain “at the forefront” of discussions before decision-makers Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland exit after keeping India at bay for 110 balls, Australia v India, 4th Test, Melbourne, Day 4, December 29, 2024 Gerald Coetzee, Corbin Bosch and Dane Paterson will be in the conversation when South Africa to field fast bowler in place of Anrich Nortje in Ce Town Test First Hour, South Africa v Australia, 1st Test, Day 2, Durban, October 10, 2026 With his body in free fall and two defiant tailenders at the crease, the fast bowler put everything on the line to give Australia an unforgettable victory at Ce Town 2014. A concussion, a problematic neck and low results – Steven Smith will want to turn things around at Newlands, the scene of the Sandpergate scandal. Steven Smith’s neck required medical attention after surviving a close encounter in the 27th over, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21. 2026 Simon Harmer celebrates a wicket, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Harry Brook walks away after scoring 202 from 116 balls England v Sri Lanka, Tri Series, October 22, 2026 Janith Liyanage celebrates with teammates after hitting a six to win the game on the penultimate ball. Janith Liyanage celebrates with teammates after hitting six to win the game on the penultimate ball, England v Sri Lanka, Tri-Series, October 22, 2026 Harry Brook put himself in illustrious company at Pindi – but the only statistic that mattered was his team’s defeat. Will Jacks congratulates Harry Brook on his double century, England v Sri Lanka, Tri-Series, October 22, 2026 The last time Steven Smith was in Ce Town for a Test, he pleaded guilty in front of the press, was charged with ball-tampering and was furious. From the resulting audience, he received support from an unexpected source – his rival on the show, Faf du Plessis.
As du Plessis talks about Smith in a new video series called “Cricketers on Cricketers,” he recalls feeling sympathy for the Australian group that du Plessis himself had supported when he was found guilty of ball-tampering using leftover candy in Hobart in 2016. “At the end of the day [in Ce Town in 2018], Steve said, ‘I take responsibility.’ And we said to each other, “Why are you taking responsibility?” “They didn’t do anything wrong,” du Plessis recalled.
“And then everything blew up as far as the media and the pressure on him. I immediately said to myself: It’s not his fault. It’s the same [as my ball-tampering allegation].
“I remember sending a message saying, ‘Look, I’m really sorry you’re going through this.’ It will be hell for about a week and then it will probably stop. Without ever knowing that it would take him a year. But I’m just saying… we have your back.
We understand that you have done nothing wrong. So if you need anything from us, we are here for you. Smith was banned for one Test by the ICC, but Cricket Australia handed down a much harsher punishment, stripping him of his position and banning him for a year, along with vice-ctain David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.
The last of these was an attempt to use Sandper to change the state of the ball in the hope that the referees would change it. Du Plessis said that in Hobart in 2016, when his actions were described as a “fraud”, he was grateful that Smith stood up for him. “To be honest, in our dressing room at the time, we thought nothing had gone wrong,” said du Plessis.
“But the cameras were everywhere. And it’s just been integrated into this thing now. Suddenly I was in real trouble.
It went around the world, people said, “Fraud.” It weighs heavily on you. Du Plessis and Smith in Hobart, 2016: The South Africans had won the series 2-0 when their team was found guilty of ball-tampering. Faf du Plessis and Steven Smith walk, Australia v South Africa, 2nd Test, Hobart, Day 4, November 15, 2016. Du Plessis said it would have been understandable if Smith, under pressure after the Adelaide Test with Australia 0-2 in the series, had increased the pressure on him in the post-match press conference. “We listened to him on TV and literally everyone in our group said, ‘Wow, he doesn’t have to do that.’ It was a choice he made: I’ll probably choose the humane, the good, rather than the pressure.
It was amazing for me to see that. I remember saying it meant a lot to the South African team and the respect we had for Steve Smith that day. “In the episode, Finch and du Plessis also tell stories about Smith’s more bizarre traits, including the time he returned 29 of 30 clubs offered to him by a club manufacturer, saying they weren’t good enough, and his competitive spirit, even when playing with an eight-year-old fan. Watch: Cricketers on cricketers – Faf du Plessis and Aaron Finch on Steven Smith Faf du Plessis on the supportive words he gave to Steven Smith after the ball-tampering announcement in 2018 Faf du Plessis on the supportive words he gave to Steven Smith after the ball-tampering announcement in 2018
