Usman Khawaja and captain Steve Smith led the charge for Australia after the loss of two early wickets on the second day of the day-night third Test against South Africa on Friday.

The International Cricket Council voiced disappointment after South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis said he will appeal his conviction for ball-tampering.

It had been a tumultuous few days for South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis, who was found guilty of ball-tampering by the

The third Test may have started with the bad aftertaste of a ball-tampering row but it only steeled the man at the centre of it all,

Australia skipper has lost his past six coin tosses in Test matches after Proteas leader Faf du Plessis called correctly at the Adelaide Oval.

Skipper Faf du Plessis put his ball tampering controversy behind him to defy Australia's bowlers with a steely century to put South Africa in early control of the day-night third Test in Adelaide today.

Around the same time that the ICC heard the Faf du Plessis case, there emerged on social media footage of Virat Kohli and David Warner with suggestions that they might have introduced artificial substances to shine the ball.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting says he would consider the role of chairman of selectors if offered the job and is also open to discussions on a coaching position with the team.

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis insisted he wasn't a cheat and warned cricket authorities had opened a "can of worms" on Wednesday after he was found guilty of ball-tampering in controversial circumstances.

South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis was found guilty of ball-tampering on Tuesday but cleared to play in this week's third Test against Australia, who are fighting to avoid their first ever home Test series whitewash.

South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis was fined his entire match fee but cleared to play in this week's third Test against Australia after being found guilty of ball-tampering on Tuesday.

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis will face a ball-tampering hearing at 3:30 p.m. local time (0500 GMT) on Tuesday in Adelaide, the International Cricket Council said, putting his participation in the third Test against Australia in doubt.

A call for "patience" from Australia selectors for the radically changed squad that emerged from the Hobart wreckage struck a discordant note for some former players after Callum Ferguson and Joe Mennie were barely given a chance to impress.

Australia are facing mounting calls from former greats for a drastic overhaul of how cricket is run as they stare down the barrel of a first-ever home Test series whitewash.

A security official travelling with the South African team shoved an Australian television reporter against a glass door in ugly scenes as he attempted to interview captain Faf du Plessis Monday.

Crisis-hit Australia included English-born opener Matt Renshaw among six changes to their revamped Test squad Sunday for this week's crucial third day-night Test against South Africa in Adelaide.

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has been charged with ball tampering during the second test against Australia in Hobart, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Friday.

Australia's cricketers have lost their "fear factor" and could be heading towards a West Indies-style decline, batting great Brian Lara warns.

Rod Marsh has resigned as Australia's chairman of selectors in the wake of the test team's 2-0 series loss to South Africa.

"Embarrassed" skipper Steve Smith said Australia needed a shake-up but backed under-fire coach Darren Lehmann after the hosts slumped to a humiliating series defeat to South Africa on Tuesday.