South African skipper Faf Du Plessis fined for ball-tampering but cleared to play

Faf du Plessis has been found guilty of ball-tampering and fined his entire match fee from the second test against Australia in Hobart but the South Africa captain has been cleared to play in this week´s third and final match of the series.

Du Plessis received the punishment following an International Cricket Council (ICC) hearing in Adelaide on Tuesday, two days ahead of South Africa's first day-night test match at the Adelaide Oval.

The ICC had announced that it would review footage of the match that appeared to show du Plessis applying saliva to the ball with a lolly in his mouth.

The 32-year-old, the stand-in captain for the injured AB de Villiers has previously been in hot water for ball tampering.

In 2013, Du Plessis was fined 50 percent of his match fee for ball tampering in the second test against Pakistan.

He was caught on camera rubbing the ball against a zip on his pocket on the third day of the match in Dubai, leading umpires Ian Gould and Rod Tucker to penalise South Africa five runs and change the ball. Du Plessis did not contest the charge.

South Africa's innings and 80-run win over Australia in Hobart sealed the three-match test series with a game in hand.