Eight years ago, when Australia toured South Africa, the series was marred by controversies. David Warner‘s near-fisticuffs with Quinton de Kock were one of the earliest highlights, but there was a massive storm brewing by the time both teams reached Cape Town for the third Test.

Cameras spotted Cameron Bancroft using some foreign object to clean the ball. It later came to light that the opener had used sandpaper, which saw him get banned for nine months. Steve Smiththe then captain who later admitted to knowing the plot, was banned for a year alongside Warner after tearful press conferences on their arrival back home.

Justin Langer, who took over from Darren Lehmann after the series as the Aussie coach, slammed the Proteas for their distasteful documentary on the issue. The 55-year-old was a guest on In the Middle with Watto Podcast and said, “In my opinion, Smith, Warner, and Bancroft not only took one for the team, but took it for cricket’s world. The ball hasn’t reverse swung around the world since that day.”

He called out the Proteas for their documentary and said, “I saw a really smug documentary they made about the incident about a year into my coaching stint with the Aussie side, and I felt like vomiting the entire time I was watching it. When I went to England with Smith and Warner, the way they were treated was disgusting.”

Both players returned in 2019 during the ODI World Cup. Australian, led by Tim Paine, played the Ashes series in England, where they were booed and jeered by the crowds. In a documentary made around the series, it was seen that the fans were gesturing using sandpaper on the ball, while the players were sitting in the team bus.

Day two in Gqeberha was marred by rain again

After just a handful of overs bowled on the first day, day two of the second Test in Gqeberha also ended early due to rain. South Africa started the day at 20/2 and saw Marques Ackermann become Scott Boland’s third wicket of the game.

Matthew Breeztke scored just four runs before he edged the ball behind to Alex Carey as he became Mitchell Starc’s 449th Test wicket. Boland then got his fourth wicket of the innings when Ryan Rickelton was caught by Matt Renshaw for 31 runs.

The weather suggests a timely start to the day on Tuesday, and we could have uninterrupted action till lunchtime. During the second session, the conditions could get overcast, but there is no chance of rain.