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Australia stand-in captain Steven Smith has called David Warner's lifetime ban from leadership "fundamentally wrong”and backed the opener to return to form against South Africa.

Smith and Warner were banned from cricket for a year and Cameron Bancroft for nine months following the Newlands ball-tampering scandal in March 2018, with Smith banned from holding a leadership position for two years and Warner for life.

"From my point of view, banning for life from leadership is just fundamentally wrong," Smith said after Australia's 419-run victory. "David served his time like I did. For us, we know he's a leader around the group, and on and off the field he's doing a tremendous job. "

“It’s been a difficult one for him. It’s been a difficult week and David said himself he’s done and dusted. He wants to move on [from the leadership saga]. He’s got our full support, and hopefully, he can have a really big series for us against South Africa.”

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Smith claimed Warner was a “once-in-a-generation” player who would bounce back after his run of low scores.

“Dave is a once-in-a-generation player. He’s arguably the best ever opener for Australia and the way he’s able to put pressure on bowlers from the outset helps everyone down the order as well.

“He’s been an incredible player for a long period of time, his record suggests that and there’s no reason why he can’t have a big series for us this week coming up as well.”