Former cricketers such as Michael Clarke, Shane Warne, Michael Vaughan, Nassir Hussain and many more have scrutinised Smith for his plan to 'cheat'.

Australia cricketers confessed to ball tampering in a desperate plot hatched by Steve Smith and Co. as they saw the third Test against South Africa slipping away.

Young batsman Cameron Bancroft said he was tasked to carry out the tampering in the third test against South Africa in Cape Town.

The issue was first highlighted when Australia opening batsman David Warner was confronted by a fan and apparently verbally abused as he left the field after being dismissed.

Smith said in the lead-up to the third Test in Cape Town that Rabada's successful appeal against a two-Test ban was "interesting". He questioned why he was not invited to give his side of the story at the judicial hearing.

Rabada was found not guilty of the charge of making inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with a player following a hearing before the Right Honourable Michael Heron QC.

Judicial commissioner Michael Heron, who heard the appeal, said he couldn't be "comfortably satisfied" that Rabada intended to make contact with Smith and found him not guilty of the charge under the ICC's code of conduct.

The Proteas pacer will remain under suspension unless the commissioner permits him to play in the third Test, which will commence from March 22 at Newlands, Cape Town.

South Africa clinched its win in Port Elizabeth by chasing down the meagre target of 101 before tea on the fourth day.

Rabada bumped into Smith with his shoulder during his follow-through after dismissing the Australia skipper lbw on Friday at St. George's Park.

An Australia victory in the second Test would ensure the tourists cannot lose the four-match series and would mean another failure for South Africa, who haven't beaten Australia in a series at home since 1970.

Josh Hazlewood trapped Quinton de Kock lbw for 83 as Australia bowled South Africa out for 298 in its second innings to register a commanding 118-run win to take 1-0 lead in the four-Test series.

53 from opener Cameron Bancroft, and contributions from Smith, David Warner (28) and Shaun Marsh (33) ensured Australia moved on to 213/9 at stumps.

Australian captain Steve Smith made 56, his fifth straight score of 50 or more in Tests, but his fall to spinner Keshav Maharaj before tea was the biggest moment of the day of the first Test for the hosts.

The 34-year-old AB de Villiers, likely in the final flourishes of his career, last made a Test century in January 2015 and was subdued in South Africa's series victory over India.

South Africa expects captain Faf du Plessis, batsman AB de Villiers and wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock to all return from injuries for the first Test in Durban.

Smith had led the Rising Pune Supergiant last year to the final of the IPL where they eventually lost to champions Mumbai Indians.

Rajasthan Royals, are making a comeback in the league after having faced a two-year ban in the famous IPL fixing scandal and would be looking to aim a perfect captain to flag-bear the team.

The attacking left-hander is the only member of the victorious Ashes squad to feature in all three formats of the game for the Kangaroos in this Australian summer.

Smith emerged the clear winner of the Allan Border medal - Australia's foremost individual cricket honour, that he previously secured in 2015 having finished well clear of his vice-captain David Warner and off-spinner Nathan Lyon.