South African captain Faf du Plessis is in danger of missing the third Test after the International Cricket Council charged him with ball tampering on Friday.
The ICC believes du Plessis has a case to answer after reviewing television footage of him applying saliva to the ball when he had a lolly in his mouth during the second Test against Australia in Hobart.
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South Africa team defend Du Plessis
South Africa's captain Faf Du Plessis has been charged with ball tampering but his team has come to his defence.
It's the second time in three years du Plessis has landed in hot water for his management of the ball. He was fined by the ICC in 2013 for rubbing the ball on a trouser zipper during a Test against Pakistan, despite the match referee being satisfied it was "not part of a deliberate and/or prolonged attempt to unfairly manipulate the condition of the ball".
Du Plessis has pleaded not guilty and will face ICC match referee Andy Pycroft to see if he will play in the day/night Test next week in Adelaide.
Du Plessis can be fined between 50 per cent to 100 per cent of his match fee and/or up to two suspension points and four demerit points. Two suspension points equates to a one-Test suspension, as do four demerit points, however those penalties can be served concurrently. Players may shine the ball but are not allowed to use artificial substances.
Should du Plessis be found guilty, it will take some gloss off South Africa's domination of Australia this series.
Umpires spoke to du Plessis during the Perth Test over concerns with the South Africa's management of the ball. The Proteas are standing by their skipper, whom they believe has done nothing wrong.
"The reason everyone is here is to stand together, really, and to show solidarity to something ... we thought was actually a joke," South African star Hashim Amla said. "It's not April, but the allegation against Faf was ... a really ridiculous thing. As a team, we're standing strong, we've done nothing wrong. It's basically a joke."
"Whether it is or not [under investigation], we've done nothing wrong and I know Faf has done absolutely nothing wrong.
"I chew bubblegum while I'm on the field. You want me to brush my teeth after lunch? We're standing out on the field for two hours ... there was no malicious intent whatsoever. Is it proven or what? Because that's something that is really new to us. I've had sweets in my mouth, bubblegum in my mouth, biltong, nuts. I'm not sure what the big deal is. To a lot of people, it's sounding more like sour sweets."