Australia batsman David Warner has been revealed as the brains behind the team's controversial plan to tamper with the ball during the second Test against South Africa in Cape Town.

The 31-year-old, as well as captain Steve Smith, has been banned for 12 months, while Cameron Bancroft has been suspended for ninth months for his role in the scandal.

On day three of the third Test, footage emerged of Bancroft taking what he initially claimed was yellow tape out of his pocket to rub the ball with before putting the object down his trousers.

An internal investigation from Cricket Australia has revealed that the object was in fact sandpaper, and that Warner had instructed his teammate to carry out the plan, and even demonstrated to Bancroft how it should be done.

Smith has been punished for knowing about the plan and failing to stop it from happening or reporting it to the relevant authorities prior to the incident being carried out.

The 28-year-old has been banned from captaining Australia for two years, while Warner will no longer be considered for a leadership role.