Episode 44: Why Sandpapergate Saved Australian Cricket

<p>On today&#39;s episode of Slashing Through the Cordon, we talk about everything that is happening in the world of cricket, at home and abroad.</p><p>Australia is about to take on South Africa in the first Test series between the two teams in South Africa since the horrible and belligerent series in 2018, when Australian cricket met its Ragnarok.</p><p>On today&#39;s episode, I go on a trip down memory lane, describing memories of the battles between the two countries in Test cricket since South Africa&#39;s return to International cricket after the apartheid years. I discuss the matches and those that went to the wire, and the incidents that occurred along the way - and yes, there are more than you might remember between these two nations.</p><p>I then discuss the lead up to that series, the unsettling way that the Australia cricket team had lost the support of its own fans for the way they carried on in the field and during matches at that time, and how it all led to what happened on that fateful day in Newlands eight years ago.</p><p>I then go on to discuss how that incident, rather than only being such a hideous footnote on Australia cricket, actually acted as the catalyst that saved our men&#39;s national team, and eventually made them stronger than they would have been without it occurring.</p><p>That&#39;s the agenda on today&#39;s episode, one that does not fear to tread when others may not.</p><p><strong>For this and other podcasts, as well as receiving bonus exclusive content, go to my Patreon page at Metal Cavern Podcasting.</strong></p><p><strong>Patreon: </strong><a href="https://www.patreon.com/realmetalkevin" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a><a href="https://www.patreon.com/realmetalkevin%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0%E2%81%A0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a><a href="https://www.patr