Overview
- On Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, Steve Smith told Australian outlets he still gets flashbacks and anxiety when he hears camera shutters or sees flashes.
- Smith recounted being mobbed at Johannesburg airport and breaking down at a press conference in Sydney after he was sent home from the March 2018 Newlands Test.
- Cricket Australia responded to the 2018 incident by sacking Smith as captain and banning him for 12 months while David Warner received a 12‑month suspension and Cameron Bancroft was banned for nine months.
- Smith has rebuilt his career since the ban, returning for the 2019 World Cup and the Ashes and compiling more than 10,900 Test runs with an average near 56.
- Australia begins a three‑Test series in South Africa on Oct. 9, 2026, and team leaders warn that hostile crowds could affect match atmosphere and players' wellbeing, making Smith's disclosure relevant to how the tour is managed.