The cricket world's attention is firmly on the Australian cricket team after captain Steve Smith admitted that the "leadership group" authorised a plan for Cameron Bancroft to tamper with the ball in the third Test against South Africa.

But as Cricket Australia (CA) investigates the incident that saw Smith suspended for one Test by the International Cricket Council, footage has emerged which has prompted social media users to question whether Bancroft had attempted a similar move in the past.

The footage, which circulated on social media over the weekend, showed Bancroft in the tea room spooning sugar into his hand before appearing to place it in his pocket during the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney.

It is unclear what the sugar was used for, but social media users allege it's a measure used to tamper with the ball.

"Theory is he used the sugar to try and scratch the ball," according to one social media user.

Here’s Cameron Bancroft appearing to put sugar in his pocket against England in January... pic.twitter.com/ju6W47PECc — David Coverdale (@dpcoverdale) March 24, 2018

cameron bancroft caught on film putting sugar in his pocket at the ashes in January, theory is he used the sugar to try and scratch ball. — neil jones (@neiljones174) March 25, 2018

On Sunday, Smith admitted at a press conference that the team's leadership group authorised a plan for Bancroft to tamper with the ball to gain an advantage.

Bancroft was caught on camera with tape, which he attempted to hide from the umpires, designed to interfere with the ball in order to create reverse-swing.

Smith's captaincy hangs in the balance after he was handed the suspension and fined 100 per cent of his match fee by the ICC for authorising premeditated cheating.