South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis has avoided suspension and escaped with a fine after a three-hour International Cricket Council hearing at Adelaide Oval. Du Plessis was found guilty of ball tampering after footage emerged from the second Test of him using saliva to shine the ball with a mint in his mouth. Du Plessis will be docked 100 per cent of his match fee but is free to play the day-night Test that starts on Thursday. The Proteas skipper had been charged with "changing the condition of the ball in breach of Law 42.3" by the ICC CEO Dave Richardson following the tourists' victory in the Hobart test. Du Plessis pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Source: New Zealand Herald November 22, 2016 09:03 UTC