Harmer says T20 softened rivalry as South Africa host Australia after Sandpapergate
South Africa spinner Simon Harmer says franchise T20 cricket has softened Australia–South Africa rivalry ahead of the three-match Test series starting at Kingsmead, Durban, on Friday. It is Australia's first Test series in South Africa since the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2South Africa and Australia begin a three-match Test series at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday, Australia's first Test series in South Africa since the 2018 "Sandpapergate" ball-tampering scandal. CNAN “Australia are playing their first test series in South Africa since the 2018 "Sandpapergate" scandal” Read at CNA ↗ Al JazeeraLC “when they start a three-match series in Durban on Friday” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Mixed · 2In 2018 Australia used sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball in Cape Town, which led to bans for captain Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft. CNAN “resulting in bans for captain Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft” Read at CNA ↗ Al JazeeraLC “David Warner, considered the ringleader, was suspended for 12 months and stripped of all leadership roles, while Cameron Bancroft was slapped with a nine-month ban.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Centre · 1South Africa spinner Simon Harmer, speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, said he expects none of the animosity of that tour to return, arguing that the growth of T20 franchise cricket, where international rivals often become teammates, has taken some of the sting out of contests. CNAN “Harmer believes the growth of Twenty20 franchise cricket, where international rivals regularly become teammates, has taken some of the sting out of such contests.”“I think T20 has softened that a little bit but I don't expect Australia to be soft by any stretch of the imagination.” Read at CNA ↗
Centre · 1Harmer, 37, expected to be one of two spinners South Africa use in the first Test, called Australia extremely competitive and said the series would be closely fought, adding that South Africa's resilience was on show when they beat Australia by five wickets in last year's World Test Championship final at Lord's. CNAN “The 37-year-old Harmer, expected to be one of two spinners South Africa will use in the first test”“last year’s clash at Lord’s where South Africa beat Australia by five wickets” Read at CNA ↗ Left · 1Al Jazeera reports that the Kingsmead pitch often proves fickle but should favour spinners, and that Harmer and Keshav Maharaj took heavily to India's batters last November in South Africa's last two Tests; South Africa may rest Kagiso Rabada as he recovers from a hamstring injury and must choose a number three, with Marques Ackerman a possible debutant. Al JazeeraLC “The pitch at Kingsmead often proves a fickle track but should offer the spinners a chance to play a leading role”“South Africa may therefore opt to rest frontline attack bowler Kagiso Rabada from the Test as he continues his comeback from a hamstring injury.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Left · 1Al Jazeera says the scandal has drawn little media focus in South Africa compared with the Australian press, and that Australia should expect no more than a few heckles. Al JazeeraLC “The scandal has attracted little media focus in South Africa over recent weeks in comparison to the attention devoted to the incident in the Australian press.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗
Left · 1Australia arrive after a surprise home Test defeat by Bangladesh in August, in a drawn series, with injuries to Josh Inglis and Cameron Green opening the way for the recall of 34-year-old Nic Maddinson or a chance for Cooper Connolly. Al JazeeraLC “Australia are also in need of a boost after a surprise home Test defeat by Bangladesh in August in their drawn series”“Injury to Australia all-rounder Cameron Green opens up a chance at number five for Cooper Connolly” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Left · 1Travis Head defended the team against former players' criticism after Matthew Hayden accused selectors of promoting "the greatest pile of mediocrity that we’ve seen in a generation of cricket" over Maddinson's recall. Al JazeeraLC “accused selectors of “promoting the greatest pile of mediocrity that we’ve seen in a generation of cricket””“This group is strong enough to deal with those sorts of things.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Left · 1Smith, who has 10,920 Test runs at an average of 56, told News Corp he still has flashbacks to the 2018 scandal, calling it a traumatic experience, and said he is bracing for hostile crowds but will use them as motivation. Al JazeeraLC “with 10,920 Test runs so far at an average of 56”“I use it as motivation to try and go out and do well and try and take a positive from it.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Al Jazeera presents a broad series preview centred on Australia's Sandpapergate memories and their current troubles, with South Africa as WTC holders.
- Emphasis
- Smith's trauma over 2018, Head's response to critics, selection dilemmas, spin-friendly Kingsmead pitch and Australia's Bangladesh defeat.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not carry Harmer's remarks about T20 softening rivalries.
- Charged language
- “sent home in disgrace”“infamous series”“darkest moments”
- For example
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“The prolific batter was sent home in disgrace, banned for a year and sacked as captain” — Al Jazeera
“the scandal that is considered one of Australian sport’s darkest moments” — Al Jazeera
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- CNA leads with Harmer's press-conference remarks that T20 franchise cricket has softened old rivalries, recalling the ugly 2018 confrontations as background.
- Emphasis
- Harmer's quotes on T20 softening rivalry, Australian competitiveness, and South Africa's WTC final win at Lord's.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not cover team selection, Australia's form or the Australian side's perspective.
- Charged language
- “ugly confrontations”“argy bargy”
- For example
-
“The scandal followed a series of ugly confrontations, including off-field fighting and on-field jostling between the two teams” — CNA
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- The three-match Test series starts at Kingsmead, Durban, on Friday.
- It is Australia's first Test series in South Africa since the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal.
- South Africa beat Australia in last year's World Test Championship final at Lord's.
- Smith, Warner and Bancroft were banned over the 2018 ball tampering.
Left1 article
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South Africa host Australia who battle more than ‘Sandpapergate’ memories
Mixed Series preview that dwells on Australia's scandal legacy, Smith's distress and squad troubles, while noting South Africa's strengths.
Centre1 article
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CNAN ·
T20 ties have softened on-field rivalries, says Harmer
Neutral Straight press-conference report built around Harmer's view that T20 has softened Test rivalries.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 7 Oct 19:08 First CNAN T20 ties have softened on-field rivalries, says Harmer
- 7 Oct 22:09 +3h 1m Al JazeeraLC South Africa host Australia who battle more than ‘Sandpapergate’ memories
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.