Hope Australia gets a respectful reception in test series: Aiden Markram

South Africa batter Aiden Markram admits he does not know what sort of reception the Australian team will get from the home crowds in next month’s three-match Test series, but hopes it is a respectful one.

The matches in Durban, Gqeberha and Cape Town are the first time the teams meet in Tests in South Africa since the infamous 2018 “Sandpapergate” scandal where the tourists were guilty of trying to alter the condition of the ball in the third Test at Newlands in Cape Town.

Read more: 'I've got no idea': Aiden Markram on prospect of leading LSG next IPL season


The memory of the incident could add extra spice to a series that is never short of an edge, with South Africa having defeated Australia in the World Test Championship final last year.

“Obviously, 2018 was a long time ago, and there will be fans who probably haven’t forgotten what happened,” Markram told reporters.

“But there will also be quite a few who have moved on and understand that things look very different now (in the Australia team).