Shane Warne says the punishment given to Steve Smith and David Warner for ball-tampering in the third Test against the Proteas does not fit the crime.

In a Facebook post, the former Australia spinner said the duo should have been allowed to continue playing after the Test series, instead of receiving one-year bans from international and domestic cricket.

‘My punishment would have been to miss the fourth Test match [at the Wanderers], a huge fine, and be sacked as captain and vice-captain. But they should still be allowed to play after that,’ he wrote.

Warne also suggested the worldwide reaction to the scandal had gone too far, citing South Africa’s own ball-tampering cases.

‘Faf du Plessis, has been charged with the offence twice, and opening bowler Vernon Philander once. The list of players who have been charged with ball-tampering is long and contains some of the biggest names in the game.

‘There are those countries that don’t like Australia, don’t like individuals in the team, and there has been a build-up of hate which has exploded and created this tornado of hysteria.

Read Warne’s full post: