Sandpaper stunt outside the Oval foiled by stewards

Spectators on their way to the Oval, and those congregating in nearby pubs, were inundated with the rectangular sheets, which bore the numbers four and six, prior to the start of play

Thousands of sheets of sandpaper were handed to fans outside the Kia Oval prior to Australia's opening one-day international against England.

The stunt was dreamed up by share-dealing app Dabbl and relates to the infamous events in Cape Town in March, when three Australians conspired to alter the condition of the ball during a Test match against South Africa.

Spectators on their way to the Oval, and those congregating in nearby pubs, were inundated with the rectangular sheets, which bore the numbers four and six, prior to the start of play.

The ploy was largely foiled by stewards on duty inside the perimeter of the stadium, however.

Anyone who’s having their sandpaper confiscated inside the ground today, we’ve got you covered #ENGvsAUS #Cricket #SandpaperGate @TheBarmyArmy pic.twitter.com/cyGWeni1nT

— Dabbl (@dabblinvest) June 13, 2018

Security officials confiscated a large number of sheets of sandpaper, with a venue source suggesting they would be entitled to do so to prevent ambush marketing.

Dabbl, whose branding was spread across one side, are not an official partner of the ECB.

Still, they remained resolute on social media, posting a picture of several boxes of the incriminating items, alongside the caption: "We won't be silenced! We have about 23,462 more hidden up our cricket whites".

Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft all received lengthy bans from Cricket Australia as a result of the ball-tampering scandal.

Smith and Warner will not be eligible to feature for their country until next April after being slapped with 12-month suspensions, while Bancroft is serving nine months.

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