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Pat Cummins expects rowdy crowds on Australia's Test tour of South Africa

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 15, 2026, 11:52 AM

Last updated Sep 15, 2026

Pat Cummins expects rowdy crowds on Australia's Test tour of South Africa

Summary

Australia's cricket team prepares for a Test series in South Africa starting October 9, facing expected hostility from fans due to the 2018 Sandpaper Gate scandal. Captain Pat Cummins believes the backlash may not be as intense as anticipated, recalling that past reactions have been underwhelming. He emphasized the importance of focusing on cricket amid crowd provocations. Although Australia has played white-ball cricket in South Africa since the incident, this will mark their first red-ball series there since 2018. Cummins is optimistic about the performance of his team, despite recent criticisms following a loss to Bangladesh.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•Australia will play three Tests and three ODIs in South Africa.
•Cummins acknowledges possible crowd hostility related to Sandpaper Gate.
•He believes the reaction from fans may be overestimated.
•Australia's last Test series in South Africa was during the 2018 scandal.
•Cummins indicates focus will shift to cricket quickly once the series starts.

Latest Updates

11:52 AMYahoo Sports — Pat Cummins warns Australia could face 'hostility' on first South Africa Test tour since Sandpaper Gate

What they're saying

"
As the Australian cricket team gears up for a Test series in South Africa, captain Pat Cummins anticipates a wave of hostility from local fans. He feels the squad has put the 2018 ball-tampering incident behind them and admits that the expected backlash from supporters hasn't been as fierce as presumed.
— Yahoo Sports

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South Africa Cricket