Australian opening batsman Cameron Bancroft could face questions over an incident captured by television cameras during the third day of the third Test against South Africa at Newlands.
Bancroft was spoken to by umpires Nigel Llong and Richard Illingworth during the 43rd over of South Africa’s second innings Saturday after appearing to have an object in his hand after fielding the ball at cover. While the umpires were conferring, Bancroft appeared to place a small yellow object in his underpants. When the umpires went across to talk to him he reached into a pocket and showed them what seemed to be a different object – what looked like a soft pouch for sunglasses.
The umpires took no action and did not change the ball.
The incident drew plenty of ire on Twitter.
Can we talk about this? pic.twitter.com/cmpRrOArgD
— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) March 24, 2018
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
Bud you know nothing in professional sport is done without the consent of your captain and coach... Tough times ahead.
— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) March 24, 2018
#SandpaperGate is going to be a monster.
— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) March 24, 2018
Mr Bancroft is very good at giving humorous press conferences ..... Tonight’s could be a belter !!!!!! #SAvAUS
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 24, 2018
Very interested in seeing how the match referee views this Bancroft matter. If indeed he was trying to hide the sandpaper, that makes him look very guilty.. Just as interested in seeing what the team management has to say about its team
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 24, 2018
Fans had plenty to say about it as well.
Naughty naughty aussies ball tampering never!!! Opps
— Phil Tufnell (@philtufnell) March 24, 2018
The fear in Lehman’s eyes... #balltampering pic.twitter.com/veK9O7spl0
— Jason Knight (@JasonAKnight) March 24, 2018
Suspect Bancroft is gonna cop more than a headbutt for this #SAvAUS
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) 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
This is how it appeared to play out:
— Tom Morris (@tommorris32) March 24, 2018
1. Bancroft takes an unspecified piece of material from his pocket and rubs it on the ball. Big screen captures it.
2. Lehmann sees footage on screen.
3. 12th man Handscomb comes onto field & speaks to CB.
4. CB puts material down pants.
Perhaps it was a guitar pick, and Bancroft was preparing for the evening's guitar lessons with the Cape Town Conservatory?
— Samir Chopra (@EyeOnThePitch) March 24, 2018
Canary Yellow?
— Iain O'Brien (@iainobrien) March 24, 2018
Or, Australian Gold?
I'm not sure of the colour of that "object"
JUST IN: Rabada's lawyer seen handing out business cards in the Australian dressing room. #SAvsAUS
— Tim Johnson (@timalanjohnson) March 24, 2018