Cricket: South African captain could be in hot water

South Africa's captain Faf du Plessis, right, chats with bowler Kagiso Rabada. Photo / AP.

Footage has emerged of South African captain Faf du Plessis shining the ball during the second test flogging of Australia in Hobart with a lolly in his mouth.

In what appears to be tactics similar to those used by England during the 2005 Ashes series to enhance the ball's ability to swing, footage shows du Plessis repeatedly licking his finger before rubbing the Kookaburra.

No action was taken against England 11 years ago, however law 42.3 of the MCC cricket laws state that a fielder may polish a ball, "provided that no artificial substance is used".

Channel 9 cameras broadcast the Proteas skipper appearing to use saliva that had interacted with a lozenge, mint or lolly to shine the Kookaburra when Australia was in the middle of its embarrassing second innings collapse at Bellerive Oval.

The footage shows du Plessis reaching into his own mouth to rub his fingers on an item in his mouth before rubbing the same fingers on the shiny side of the test match ball.

@HungryForSport #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/sd3Z8W73G3

— Mick Stewart (@StewedMick) November 15, 2016

The video clip is certain to attract questions of potential ball tampering after Australian cricketers earlier this series raised their own concerns about their South African rivals' ability to get the ball swinging during the first test at the Waca.

The Proteas batsman was reportedly warned by umpires Aleem Dar and Nigel Llong about his team scuffing up the ball with their returning throws to keeper Quinton de Kock during the first test.

The fill-in skipper has also previously been accused of ball tampering when he was fined 50 per cent of his match fee in 2013 in a test series against Pakistan when broadcast cameras filmed him "rubbing the ball in the vicinity of the zipper of his trouser pocket".

It follows revelations in 2008 from former English batsman Marcus Trescothick that England "cheated" during the 2005 Ashes series against Australia by using mint-induced saliva to keep the shine on the ball.

In his autobiography, Trescothick admitted to using Murray Mints in order to boost the longevity of the shine he was trying to put on the ball.

Australia were humiliated by an innings and 80 runs in the second test. They will be out to avoid their first home whitewash in 129 years when the third test, a day-night test in Brisbane, begins next Thursday

Captain Steve Smith gave an emotional press conference following the debacle in Hobart, indicating he isn't always getting the team he wants from selectors.

Smith's words have heaped more pressure on embattled Chairman of Selectors Rod Marsh, with calls for him to be dumped by Cricket Australia growing louder.

Criticism of the Australian outfit came from all sides yesterday after the fourth day capitulation.

West Indies legend Brian Lara added his voice to the mix, saying Australian cricket was heading the same way the Windies empire did in the mid-90s and no-one feared Smith's men anymore.

- additional reporting news.com.au