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Cameron Bancroft is in hot-water for illegally tampering with the ball during Australia's Test with South Africa - but it now appears he has previous.

The opening batsman was caught rubbing a piece of yellow tape with dirt ground into it onto the ball - in a bid to make it reverse.

Skipper Steve Smith admitted the illegal fiddling before he and vice-captain David Warner agreed to stand down from their roles for the remainder of the Test match with South Africa.

But now it appears, despite Smith's protestations, it maybe wasn't a one-off.

Eagle-eyed viewers were left baffled by what Bancroft did while making a cup of tea during day two of the fifth Test of the Ashes this winter.

(Image: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

(Image: Facebook) (Image: Facebook)

During a break, the 25-year-old bowler appeared to take a small spoon of sugar and deposit it into the palm of his left hand. Bancroft then seemed to put the sugar into his left pocket.

A video of the Aussie's actions was posted on Facebook, with the caption: "I wonder why Cam Bancroft is saving some sugar for out in the field...."

Some viewers were left baffled, Alasdair Hodgson commented: "Hmmm wonder what he's up to? Who knows with the Aussies."

(Image: Internet Unknown) (Image: AFP)

Others believed foul play was at work. Some, though, took a more honest route with the cricketer's actions...

Daniel Cooper said: "Maybe he's diabetic and he isn't allowed to take sugar lollies with him."

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As it turned out, Bancroft was actually spooning a piece of chewing gum into his hand and then into his pocket to have out on the field as a hygienic precaution.

Several members of the Australian team suffered with illness during the Boxing Day Test and as a result they have been asked to spoon items like gum and nuts from a bowl rather than use their hands directly.

Play closed on the with England 346 all out and Australia 193 - 2.