South Africa captain Faf du Plessis is free to play in the third Test against Australia in Adelaide after avoiding suspension for ball-tampering.

Du Plessis was fined 100 per cent of his match fee by the International Cricket Council (ICC) following a three-hour hearing on Tuesday.

He was handed the sanction for breaching the ICC code of conduct.

Du Plessis was cited after TV footage appeared to show him shining the ball from saliva tainted by a mint in his mouth during the fourth day’s play in the second Test in Hobart.

In addition to the fine, three demerit points were added to du Plessis’ disciplinary record. He has 48 hours to appeal the decision.

The ruling continues the drama-filled fallout from du Plessis’ charge, which was headlined when a South African staffer got rough with a Channel 9 reporter at Adelaide Airport on Monday.

There's been some off field argy bargy well before the start of the third test at the Adelaide Airport. Full report in 7 News at 6pm. pic.twitter.com/MNJ28KuolJ

— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) November 21, 2016

The journalist, trying to question du Plessis, was pushed and then barged into a window.

Former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin told The New Daily on Tuesday the saga had been poor for cricket’s image.

“It hasn’t been a good look for the game,” he said.

“I think the whole thing has been blown up, to be honest, and it’s not Australia who has been complaining. The ICC laid the charge.

“The South Africans had a pretty good joke about it in the tour game but the stuff that went on at the airport, no one wants to see that.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Australia opener David Warner backed the fact du Plessis had been charged.

“The rules are in place for a reason and if you’re not going to use them, why bother having them?” he said.

“They’ve got the rules and they’re going to stand by their decisions. I think that’s a good thing.

“We as players know the guidelines now so if you’re going to overstep that mark and get fined, be prepared to miss Test matches as well.”

South Africa thrashed Australia in Tasmania. Photo: Getty

Warner did add, though, that Australia had been thoroughly beaten in Hobart and South Africa “outplayed, out-bowled, out-batted and out-fielded” his side.

Not the first time

Du Plessis was also charged with ball tampering in 2013, to which he pleaded guilty.

The batsman was seen scuffing the cricket ball against a zip pocket and third umpire Paul Reiffel brought the incident to the attention of umpires after seeing a replay.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3xij5rNzaI

The ball was examined before South Africa were hit with a five-run penalty.

Du Plessis later accepted fault and was fined 50 per cent of his match fee.

In 2014, Warner queried South Africa’s tactics and openly pondered if wicketkeeper AB de Villiers was roughing the ball up with his gloves.

Nothing was proven on that occasion but South African paceman Vernon Philander was fined 75 per cent of his match fee during a 2014 Test against Sri Lanka after being guilty of “scratching the ball with his fingers and thumb”.

Philander did not contest the charge.