‘That was a traumatic experience’: Steve Smith reveals how aftermath of Sandpapergate on last SA tour still triggers his anxiety

Steve Smith returns to South Africa for Australia 's three-Test series from October 9, his first Test tour since 2018.

Smith says camera flashes still trigger memories of Sandpapergate.

He called the Johannesburg airport ordeal and emotional press conference the toughest moments of his life.

Steve Smith reveals lasting impact of Sandpapergate trauma

Former Australian captain Steve Smith is yet to heal the emotional wounds caused by the Sandpapergate scandal of 2018 as the sounds and flashes of cameras take him back to one of the toughest phases in his career.

Speaking to CODE Sports ahead of his return to South Africa, Smith revealed that he is still uneasy around cameras owing to the experiences he had due to the ball tampering incident in 2018.

"I'm not a big fan of cameras … I get anxious around cameras to be honest," he said.

"That was a traumatic experience in my life and when I hear the flash of a camera it makes me revisit that in a way."

These revelations from Steve Smith come ahead of his return to South Africa for Test cricket after the ball tampering scandal.

Steve Smith recalls the toughest moments after Sandpapergate

The saga took place during the third Test of Australia against South Africa in Newlands, Cape Town, in March 2018, when it was discovered that Cameron Bancroft was caught with sandpaper to tamper with the ball.

Smith, who led Australia during the time, was later handed a 12-month ban from Cricket Australia along with the dismissal of his captaincy. David Warner also received a similar punishment as Smith, while Bancroft had a nine-month suspension.

But for Smith, his punishment was not all.

"The 24-48 hours of being told by James Sutherland (Cricket Australia chief executive) that I was getting banned for a year," Smith continued.

"That and going through the airport in Johannesburg getting absolutely mobbed, and then flying back and doing that press conference (was my toughest moment)."

Smith and Bancroft went through police escort during their travel back to Australia from the Johannesburg airport amid the controversy.

Smith had also broken down in tears during an emotional press conference held in Sydney after his return.

Eight years on, Sandpapergate still affects Smith

Smith noted that the experience has not simply faded away with time.

"I felt like I was ⁠kind of thrown to the wolves through the [Johannesburg] airport. I didn't have any support there at all," he said.

This statement proves that an incident which occurred eight years ago is able to influence a person's life for many years after the punishment for the offense has been served.

Smith, however, was able to build a successful career even after his comeback from the ban. His comeback to international cricket started with the 2019 World Cup, and his Ashes performance during the same year is definitely worth mentioning.

Since then, Smith continues performing in the top league, as he is still part of the Australia Test team and is set to play in South Africa in October.

Smith's return to South Africa puts Sandpapergate into perspective

Australia travel to South Africa for a three-match ODI series between September 24 and 30, prior to their three-match Test series starting with the first Test at Kingsmead, Durban, between October 9-13. The other two Tests will be played at Gqeberha and Cape Town.

Smith's return to South Africa as part Australia's 16-player Test squad will take him back to the place where he was involved in the ball-tampering controversy of 2018, coining it as 'just another series' .

It does not alter what happened in 2018 or the accountability for the same. It does, however, illustrate how a controversy in sport may continue to affect an individual long after the news has died down.

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