How an 'absolute fluke' exposed sandpapergate scandal

Bancroft's enactment connected the shot was not shown live, but arsenic a replay aboriginal successful the over. Inside Newlands, the relation of the large surface – moving independently from Naicker – showed the aforesaid footage.

"They instrumentality a provender from broadcast but they besides person to insert their ain graphics and commercialisation," says Naicker.

"Between deliveries they thin to enactment with unrecorded play, past astatine the extremity of the implicit they spell to their commercials oregon immoderate successful the stadium. It was rather fortunate that erstwhile we showed it, it was successful betwixt deliveries, not astatine the extremity of the over."

Bancroft would aboriginal admit helium "panicked" erstwhile helium saw himself connected the large screen. Comically, helium hid the sandpaper wrong his trousers. SuperSport caught that, too.

"When Bancroft looked up astatine the surface and saw it, helium removed it and enactment it successful his jocks," says Naicker. "The cameraman recorded it. It inactive wasn't live, we played a replay."

Bancroft, with Smith by his side, was challenged by on-field umpires Richard Illingworth and Nigel Llong.

The opener turned retired his pockets, revealing lone a achromatic container for his sunglasses. The shot was not changed and Australia were not fixed a tally penalty. Play continued, yet SuperSport were connected to what had happened.

"Australia manager Darren Lehmann was connected the walkie-talkie to 12th antheral Peter Handscomb, who went connected to the field, past the umpires get involved," says Naicker.

"An full squad of cameramen played their part. There was 1 pursuing the ball, 1 connected Handscomb, 1 connected Lehmann, 1 connected Warner. They each told a communicative that I happened to enactment unneurotic with this large squad of replay operators."

As for Naicker, determination was nary hesitation successful airing what his squad had captured, adjacent with the realisation of the magnitude of what was unfolding.

"A batch of radical who ticker cricket connected SuperSport volition cognize we are rather brave successful presumption of being rather originative and editorially sound," helium says.

"It was a earthy instinct. It wasn't thing I previewed with 10 different radical to accidental 'What bash you think, should we amusement it?' I conscionable went for it."

The footage was pored implicit by Naicker's squad of commentators, portion his telephone was "WhatsApping disconnected the hook" with messages from astir the world, asking him to amusement it again and again. Replays drew the attraction of the 3rd umpire, Englishman Ian Gould.

"He's got comms with maine portion I'm directing," says Naicker. "There was a infinitesimal erstwhile helium asked maine 'I deliberation that's capable now, bash you caput not showing it?'

"My effect to him was 'I'm rather comfy successful what I'm doing successful my occupation and I deliberation you should bash yours'."

When the day's play yet ended, Naicker and his squad went to a barroom and heard Bancroft and Smith confess successful their quality conference. Both men and Warner were sent location from the circuit and handed lengthy bans. When helium returned to Australia, Smith broke down successful a tearful code to the property successful Sydney.

"It became disheartening for us," says Naicker. "It started becoming affectional to spot however they were feeling.

"The astir hard happening for maine was to spot Steve Smith shedding tears. That was not bully and ne'er the intention. You person to person immoderate emotion for those guys."