Du Plessis sanctioned for ball tampering by ICC

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis is expected to appeal his guilty verdict of ball tampering and in doing so risk being suspended for one Test match.

Du Plessis was found guilty of ball tampering during the Hobart Test by the International Cricket Council during a marathon three-hour hearing at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.

Quick Single: Du Plessis guilty of ball tampering: ICC

In the wake of the outcome, cricket.com.au understands Cricket South Africa will lodge an appeal of the guilty verdict handed down by ICC match referee Andy Pycroft.

Du Plessis has 48 hours from the time he receives the formal written decision of his verdict to lodge his appeal. CSA has yet to release an official statement.

An appeal would trigger a fresh hearing in front of a judicial commissioner, who would reconsider all the evidence, and has the power to increase – or decrease – Pycroft's sanction.

Du Plessis would face being suspended for a Test match if his sanction was increased in the fresh hearing. The maximum penalty for a level two breach of the ICC's Code of Conduct is 100 per cent of the match fee and two suspensions points, the equivalent of one Test.

Jason Gillespie: Proteas scandal a storm in a lollybag

The last ICC Code of Conduct hearing with a judicial commissioner was the altercation between England's James Anderson and India's Ravindra Jadeja during a fractious 2014 Test series. In that case, which involved alleged verbal and physical altercations between the players in the tunnel to dressing rooms, the retired Australian judge Gordon Lewis threw out charges and cleared both players.

Du Plessis was fined 100 per cent of his match fee from the Hobart Test where he was deemed to have changed the condition of the ball by using a mint to shine the ball.

The 32-year-old pleaded not guilty but Pycroft rejected that found the Proteas skipper guilty of a breach of the ICC’s Code of Conduct.

An update to the governing body's Code of Conduct in September meant "the offence was treated as a first offence", an ICC statement said. Du Plessis had previously been fined for ball tampering during a Test match in 2013 and the absence of any carry-over from that incident allowed him to escape sanction.

Du Plessis polished ball with lolly in mouth

Former Australia batsman Mark Waugh said du Plessis's sanction was warranted but questioned what it meant for the game.

"You had to fine him for that (using a mint and polishing the ball," Waugh said on Inside Cricket.

"It looked so obvious it was ridiculous. He basically put the lolly on top of the ball didn't he.

"And not a good look from the captain either.

"(But) where does it stop; are you going to stop players chewing gum, eating lollies, putting sunscreen on, putting product in their hair?"

Former South Africa pace bowler Shaun Pollock said he believed the incident had been blown out of proportion but it was crucial for South Africa that du Plessis played in Adelaide.

"It's a fine, but I think he'll still be happy he can get out there and play at the Adelaide Oval," Pollock said on Inside Cricket.

"Both sides could have handled it a little bit different (and) it has been blown out of proportion a little bit.

"In our day, if there was a case where someone had performed a misdemeanour, it was dealt with at the end of the game and everything was sorted and you could move on.

"Everything has lingered for so long, and with lawyers getting involved, it's allowed that opportunity for things to get blown out of proportion."

Du Plessis charged as Proteas unite

South Africa coach Russell Domingo today said the incident had impacted on the team's preparation, but Pollock warned it may actually galvanise the tourists as they seek a 3-0 whitewash.

"I think it actually may regroup them and give them a little bit of focus," Pollock said.

"With the team gathering behind Hashim (Amla) like that (at the MCG last Friday) they obviously wanted to show there was solidarity and they'll be dead keen with everything that's gone on to put in a quality performance.

"They've talked about winning 3-0 so far, this will give them a little bit of motivation. It's key that Faf is allowed to play, he's captained the side very well, he's batted pretty well on the tour, he's a pretty key component in the side."

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