Cricket family behind axed trio: Burns

Joe Burns has reached out to former opening partner David Warner, noting the entire Australian cricket family is rallying around the suspended trio.

Footage of Warner, Cameron Bancroft and Steve Smith crying as they apologised to the nation for their roles in a ball-tampering ploy has had a profound effect on the touring party in South Africa.

Players have found it hard to focus on the fourth Test against the Proteas at times following a scandal Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull called a "shocking affront to Australia".

Burns struck up a friendship with Warner when they opened the batting for Australia.

The partnership was broken when Burns was dropped in 2016, with Matthew Renshaw then Bancroft opening alongside Warner, but the Queenslander remains on good terms with the sacked vice-captain.

"I haven't spoken to him, I flicked him a message," Burns told reporters after day four of the Test in Johannesburg.

"Obviously it's a really tough time. We've seen the boys are struggling.

"It's tough times, understandably. I think the whole cricketing family is trying to support those guys as best we can."

Warner, Smith and Bancroft are all reportedly considering the merits of taking their code-of-conduct charges to a formal hearing on April 11.

Warner, accused by CA of being the ball-tampering mastermind who corrupted Bancroft, could front an independent commissioner next week and plead his case.

The 31-year-old has been held for the "development of a plan to attempt to artificially alter the condition of the ball", and "instruction to a junior player to carry out a plan", according to CA's sanctions.

He was also charged with providing advice to Bancroft on how to tamper with the ball "including demonstrating how it could be done" and misleading the Newlands match officials by concealing his knowledge of and involvement in the plan, and did not voluntarily report his involvement.

Widespread sympathy has largely replaced seething outrage from the public, especially for Smith and Bancroft.

Many past and present Australian cricketers, at both domestic and international level, have expressed displeasure with the length of bans dished out by CA and feel they caved to what Shane Warne termed "hysteria".

"Justice which is rushed can sometimes be flawed, so let's consider the relativity," Australian Cricketers' Association president Greg Dyer told ABC.

"Let's make sure we get perspective and proportionality into this conversation."

Burns, parachuted into South Africa after helping Queensland lift the Sheffield Shield a week ago, admitted his head is still spinning over the saga that triggered chaotic change.

"It was a whirlwind. I came off the field after the Shield final, flew out that night. Got here the Wednesday night, playing Friday morning," Burns said.

"Some people probably say it's a poor preparation, but it's probably not as bad as what you think.

"It's been tough at times with the jet lag, but you keep reminding yourself that you're playing cricket for Australia. If you're a bit tired out on the field, you just deal with it. Have a Red Bull and get on with it."

Burns added he and fellow late arrival Renshaw had tried to "bring a lot of energy to the group".

"Try and get the boys up as best we can," he said.

"It's been a very tough week for the Australian cricket team."

Qantas tour of South Africa

South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Quinton de Kock, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Duanne Olivier, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, AB de Villiers.

Australia squad: Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Jon Holland, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Tim Paine, Matt Renshaw, Jhye Richardson, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.

Warm-up match: Australia beat South Africa A by five wickets. Report, highlights

First Test Australia won by 118 runs. Scorecard

Second Test South Africa won by six wickets. Scorecard

Third Test South Africa won by 322 runs. Scorecard

Fourth Test Wanderers, Johannesburg, March 30-April 3. Live coverage