The Day 2 of the 2nd Test between New Zealand and Australia saw a surprising incident which caught the eye of the fans when pacer Josh Hazlewood was seen with a sandpaper in his hand. However, the paper was provided to him by a fan who wanted a signature on the same. The incident was probably a banter by a New Zealand supporter who wanted to provoke a reaction from the Aussie pacer.
Josh Hazlewood aka Poo Bear signing some Yellow Sandpaper is the highlight of this Test so far! pic.twitter.com/oInWIemhlZ
— The ACC (@TheACCnz) March 9, 2024
During a signing session with fans, a fast bowler was presented with a piece of sandpaper alongside the usual memorabilia like a bat and a cap. The significance of sandpaper in cricket circles dates back to the infamous 2018 series between Australia and South Africa. In that series, Australia was embroiled in a scandal where they were found guilty of attempting to alter the condition of the ball by rubbing sandpaper on it, a practice known as ball tampering.
The trio of Steve Smith, David Warner, and Cameron Bancroft were implicated in the incident and subsequently faced bans from the ICC for their involvement in ball tampering. Since then, Australia has faced taunts and criticism over the incident, and they’ve been striving to rebuild their reputation and distance themselves from the perception of prioritizing victory at any cost.
Signed by Josh Hazlewood… Steve Smith politely declined… pic.twitter.com/LxfgiowkzG
— The ACC (@TheACCnz) March 10, 2024
When a fan handed the fast bowler the sandpaper, instead of reacting negatively, the bowler remained composed, recognizing the humor in the situation. He went on to sign the sandpaper as a memento for the fan.
Sandpaper Gate
The scandal, dubbed “Sandpaper gate,” shook the cricket world in March 2018 during the third Test match between Australia and South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town. The incident, captured on television cameras, involved Cameron Bancroft, under the direction of then-captain Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner, attempting to alter the condition of the ball using sandpaper. Their objective was to roughen up one side of the ball, aiming to gain an unfair advantage by inducing swing while bowling.
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