David Warner has emerged as the central figure in Australian ball-tampering skulduggery that stretches back to this winter's Ashes.
Sportsmail understands that in a brazen act during the post-series drinks between the teams, Australia's vice-captain revealed his method of altering the ball's condition to a band of England's defeated players.
It revolves around the strapping the 31-year-old wears on the thumb and index finger of his left hand. Abrasive substances are then attached to the tape to rough up or dull one side of the ball — a crucial factor in promoting reverse swing.
Oddly, although Warner regularly wears the protective coverings while in the field, he removes them while batting.
Australia captain Steve Smith was banned for one match on Sunday and fined his entire match fee of £10,000 by the ICC after he admitted the 'leadership group' of his team were all in on the premeditated plan to cheat in the humiliating third Test loss to South Africa in Cape Town.
Earlier, on the eve of the fourth day's play, Smith and his deputy Warner stood down from their positions of responsibility, with Tim Paine taking over the captaincy
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