David Warner and Steve Smith still have work to do before regaining the respect of the cricketing public, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting warned.

The controversial pair faced England in Tuesday's Cricket World Cup clash - the first time they have done so in a competitive match since completing one-year bans for their involvement in the ‘Sandpapergate’ scandal in March 2018.

England captain Eoin Morgan made no move to dampen possible hostility towards Smith and Warner here, though Warner has allowed little to distract him in this tournament.

Before Tuesday's match, the 32-year-old had scored 447 runs in six innings at an average of nearly 90.

Yet Ponting - who won the World Cup three times from 1999-2007 - believes the events of Cape Town still haunt Smith and Warner.

They were punished for the events that led team-mate Cameron Bancroft to rub sandpaper on the ball during a Test against South Africa, in an attempt to gain an illegal advantage.

The three were suspended, with Smith stripped of the captaincy.

Ponting said: “The money, and being out of the Australian team, that’s one thing, but when you’re playing a game where you’re trying to please the public all of the time, when you lose their respect that’s the hardest thing to get back.

“That’s why I think it was really important for Smith and Warner to make the most of that time away and learn about themselves so that when they came back to play international cricket again, they were ready to play bloody well - that’s the way they get the respect back and then they’ll start feeling better about themselves.

“I don’t think these two boys are the only two boys who have ever tampered with a cricket ball.

"Even in this country there’s been a few guys who went back onto the field [after penalties] and weren’t booed. Everybody understands it and those boys are not proud of what’s happened.

“They’ve served their penalty and yes, they’ll get some negativity but they’ll expect it as well.”

Another former Australia captain, Michael Clarke, has argued during the tournament that the team have lacked support as spectators take time to forgive them for Cape Town.

The reception is certain to be hostile throughout the summer, with five Ashes Tests to come from August.

Smith and Warner can expect a particularly hot welcome in the First Test at Edgbaston, the rowdiest of England’s international grounds.

As part of his role on the staff, Ponting has been talking to both players — who toured England in 2013 and 2015 — about what awaits them.

Ponting told Sky Sports: “We’ve had bits and pieces of it through some of the practice games where there was that bit of negativity towards them.

“They’ll be ready for it and we know one thing, if they’re keeping the crowd quiet then they’re playing well.

“I’ve spoken to them already, they know what they’re going to be confronted with. It’s going to be a hostile environment out there in front of the English fans and the English cricket team.

"England won’t want to make life easy for them in the middle, either."

Australia have won four of the past five World Cups, including the most recent one four years ago, but they have not been as successful in Ashes series away from home, losing every one since 2001.

If they are to regain the urn, Warner will be a key man and Ponting added: “It’s about harnessing his aggression, making sure his aggression comes when he’s got his bat in his hand and making sure that he is as involved in the contest as he can be.”