Steve Smith will return to South Africa for the opening Test on Oct 9 after a 12‑month ban that followed the 2018 ball‑tampering scandal.
He’s 37 now, but the memory of the 2018 incident still haunts him, as he told News Corp that the flurry of cameras and the mobbing at Johannesburg airport left a lasting scar.
The series will be a 3‑Test affair – Durban, Gqeberha, and Cape Town – with the first match scheduled at Kingsmead on the 9th. Smith’s comeback comes after a period of intense media scrutiny that saw him admitted to a plan to alter the ball using sandpaper, a move that led to his suspension and removal as captain.
“I still have flashbacks,” Smith said, describing the 24‑48 hours when James Sutherland informed him of the ban. Yet he added that the experience taught him valuable lessons and helped him move forward.
The Australians, who last faced South Africa at the 2025 World Test Championship final at Lord’s, will test whether Smith can keep his composure in a hostile environment and whether the team can recover from the stigma associated with the scandal.
The outcome of the series could shape the trajectory of the Australian side as they aim to re‑establish themselves on the international stage.