T20 Cricket Has Softened Old Rivalries, Says Harmer Ahead of South Africa-Australia Test Series

South Africa spinner Simon Harmer does not expect a repeat of the bad blood that scarred Australia's last Test tour of the country when the two sides meet in the first of three World Test Championship Tests at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday.

Australia are playing their first Test series in South Africa since the 2018 "Sandpapergate" scandal, when Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were banned for attempting to alter the ball with sandpaper — a tour already marred by on-field confrontations and off-field fighting.

But Harmer told a press conference on Wednesday that the rise of Twenty20 franchise leagues, where international rivals regularly share dressing rooms, has drained much of the venom from such contests.

The 37-year-old off-spinner, expected to form a two-pronged spin attack with Keshav Maharaj if the Durban surface turns, still expects a fierce contest. He described Australia as a side that fights to the death, praising a never-say-die lower order and the same backs-to-the-wall resilience he sees in South Africa — a trait he said the world saw when the Proteas beat Australia by five wickets in last year's World Test Championship final at Lord's.

Australia arrive without Cameron Green, ruled out of the opener with an abdominal strain, while South Africa may yet rest pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada as he completes his comeback from a hamstring injury.