Australia readies for South Africa return in first Test tour since Sandpapergate

Australia expects a measured reception upon returning to South Africa for its first Test tour since the ball-tampering saga.

The Aussies take on the reigning World Test Championship winners for a three-match Test tour starting on October 9.

South Africa has welcomed Australia for white-ball cricket after the infamous 2018 series, including this week, but the Test teams have not met there since the “Sandpapergate” scandal.

Steve Smith, still Australia’s premier batsman, lost the captaincy and was banned for 12 months for his part in the plot to tamper with the ball with sandpaper during South Africa’s second innings of the third Test.

Aussie star Scott Boland said the Test team would prepare for a hostile reception, but he didn’t expect anything fiercer than the parochial crowds they had faced elsewhere.

“I spoke to a couple of guys at the camp we had and they said they’d been back for a few tours … they said it wasn’t as bad as they expected,” Boland said.

“I don’t think it can be too much worse than going to Edgbaston where you’re pretty much copping it the whole time you’re in the field.

“I think it’s going to be one of those things where you wait and see and maybe plan for the worst and hope it’s not there.”

It promises to be a jam-packed series, with three Tests in Durban, Gqeberha and Cape Town crammed into just 24 days.

Boland will prepare for that Test tour by playing for Victoria against NSW in the historic clash under the new lights at Junction Oval on Friday.

The strike seamer built up to play in the series against Bangladesh in August but was ultimately not required.

Boland said the time between games had left him rested but perhaps a little rusty.

“My body is feeling really good, having the couple weeks off and then slowly working my way back into it,” he said.

“I feel like I’m in pretty good nick bowling-wise. Obviously, I haven’t played for four or five months, I might be a touch rusty.