Faf du Plessis Reflects on 2018 Ball-Tampering Scandal and Support for Steve Smith

Revisiting the 2018 Ball-Tampering Incident

Faf du Plessis, the former captain of South Africa, has shared his thoughts on reaching out to Australian cricketer Steve Smith during the infamous ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town back in 2018. Du Plessis expressed his understanding for Smith, having faced a similar predicament two years prior. During the 2018 series in South Africa, Smith, along with vice-captain David Warner and batsman Cameron Bancroft, was implicated in a significant ball-tampering incident. As a result, Cricket Australia removed Smith from his captaincy and imposed a one-year ban on both him and Warner, while Bancroft received a nine-month suspension.

In a discussion on Cricinfo’s Cricketers on Cricketers, du Plessis recounted how Smith responded to the backlash from the 2018 scandal, recalling that Smith had previously supported him during his own ball-tampering allegations in 2016. Du Plessis questioned Smith's decision to accept blame for the Cape Town incident, stating, "Steve came out at the end of the day [in Cape Town in 2018] saying: 'I take responsibility.' And we were like: 'Why are you taking responsibility? You did nothing wrong.'"

Support Amidst Media Pressure

Du Plessis expressed his empathy for Smith during the intense media scrutiny that followed the scandal, drawing parallels to his own experience. He reached out to Smith with a message of encouragement, assuring him that the South African team was behind him. "I remember sending a message and saying: 'Listen, I'm so sorry you are going through this. Just be strong. It's going to be a hell for a week or so and then it will probably blow over.'" Du Plessis noted that he had no idea Smith would endure such a lengthy ordeal.

While the International Cricket Council (ICC) handed Smith a one-Test ban, Cricket Australia enforced a harsher penalty, removing him from the captaincy and suspending him and Warner for a full year. Bancroft, who attempted to alter the ball's condition with sandpaper, faced a nine-month ban.

Appreciation for Smith's Past Support

Du Plessis expressed gratitude for Smith's backing during the 2016 ball-tampering incident, recalling the overwhelming media attention and the toll it took on him. "At the time, in our dressing room, honestly, we thought nothing had happened badly. But cameras were everywhere. And it just got built up into this thing now. All of a sudden, I was in real trouble. It was going around the world, people saying, 'Cheating.' That weighs heavy on you," he explained.

He acknowledged that Smith could have criticized him during the pressure following the Adelaide Test but chose instead to defend him against the cheating allegations. This act earned Smith the respect and gratitude of the South African team. "He was asked: What are your thoughts on Faf du Plessis and Mintgate, and it's terrible, he's cheating. And he's like, no, he's not. He's just shining the ball. That was amazing for me to see. I remember just saying that that meant a lot to the South African team and the respect that we got for Steve Smith that day," du Plessis added.