Archive · 8 Oct 2026
A Camera Fluke Exposed Australia's Ball-Tampering Scandal
Naicker said the events unfolded during a cricket series involving Australia.
The first Test in Durban had become heated.
By the second Test in Port Elizabeth, there were still arguments and tense moments.
Bancroft was given the ball and rubbed it on his pants.
Later, he rubbed it on his palm instead.
A camera happened to keep filming him at that moment.
Naicker said this unexpected camera focus revealed what the Australians were doing.
He said nobody had told him about it beforehand.
Naicker said Australia's players were caught by an unexpected camera focus on Cameron Bancroft.
The incident occurred during the second Test in Port Elizabeth.
Naicker said the ball had first been rubbed on Bancroft's pants.
On the next ball, Bancroft rubbed it on his palm while the camera stayed on him.
Naicker said the first Test in Durban had become heated, but he did not initially understand what was happening.
- Who
- Australian players, including Cameron Bancroft; Naicker recounted how they were caught.
- What
- A camera happened to capture Bancroft rubbing the ball on his palm rather than his pants.
- When
- During the second Test, after the first Test in Durban.
- Where
- Port Elizabeth, following a first Test in Durban.
- Why
- The camera stayed focused on Bancroft as he handled the ball, exposing the incident.
- First Test
- Durban
- Second Test
- Port Elizabeth
- Player observed
- Cameron Bancroft
- How the incident was captured
- A cameraman happened to keep the camera on Bancroft.
- Ball handling described
- Bancroft first rubbed the ball on his pants, then on his palm.
- Account attributed to
- Naicker