'It's the best thing for Test cricket': Rogers

Former Australia opener Chris Rogers believes Kagiso Rabada's successful appeal of his two-Test ban is the best outcome for what could go down as an all-time great series, but cautioned the paceman needs to learn a lesson from the saga.

The International Cricket Council's specially-appointed judicial commissioner dropped a bombshell on Tuesday by overturning Rabada's penalty for making physical contact with Australia captain Steve Smith in the second Test.

Rabada had been handed three demerit points which resulted in a two-Test suspension due to his poor disciplinary record, but Mike Heron QC deemed the contact to be "non-deliberate", instead slapping him with a lower-level offense.

Most importantly, it means the prodigious right-armer is free to play in the final two Tests against Australia, though he is now only one minor indiscretion away from a two-Test or four limited-overs match ban.

Ashes-winning captain Michael Vaughan declared immediately on Twitter that common sense had prevailed, a verdict former South Africa skipper Graeme Smith gave a virtual thumbs up to.