Overview
- On Saturday, Oct 24, 2026, du Plessis told Cricinfo's Cricketers on Cricketers series that he messaged Smith during the 2018 Cape Town scandal, writing 'be strong' and insisting Smith 'did nothing wrong.'
- Du Plessis recalled that Smith publicly said 'I take responsibility' at the end of the day in Cape Town in 2018, a move that surprised rivals because Cameron Bancroft was the player caught using sandpaper.
- Cricket Australia later imposed 12‑month bans on Smith and David Warner and removed Smith from the captaincy, the ICC gave Smith a one‑Test suspension, and Bancroft received a nine‑month ban.
- Du Plessis said his outreach was shaped by his own 2016 Hobart episode, known as 'Mintgate,' when he altered the ball with sweet residue and was publicly defended by Smith.
- The renewed account highlights how personal solidarity between rival captains influenced public narratives about accountability and left a lasting reputational impact without triggering new disciplinary action.