Footage of sacked skipper Steve Smith's raw pain at Sydney airport has triggered an emotional response from millions of Australians, including teammates in Johannesburg.
Smith, who has been banned for 12 months and stripped of the captaincy by Cricket Australia for his role in the ball-tampering scandal, repeatedly broke down on Thursday at Sydney airport while speaking at a press conference.
Smith's tears and look of anguish encapsulated the immense hurt he, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft are feeling.
Tim Paine and other players witnessed similar scenes behind closed doors in Cape Town and Johannesburg, but that didn't make the public outpouring of sadness any easier to watch.
"A few guys watched it and I think it really cut them up, as it did anyone that watched it," Paine told reporters after day one of the fourth Test.
"Saw how difficult it was and how much not playing for Australia is hurting those guys.
"It's really important for us to realise how lucky and privileged we are.
"It's just been really challenging for everyone involved. It's a really stressful time and our thoughts are certainly with our teammates who aren't here at the moment."
Shane Warne expressed sympathy for Smith from the commentary box at the Wanderers.
"He isn't Pablo Escobar," Warne said, referencing the Colombian drug lord.
"He didn't kill anyone. He's a guy that's made a mistake. To see him being manhandled at airports, to see him attacked, it is like the dogs are all over him.
"You can see how much it means to him, breaking down."
Paine has worked hard behind the scenes during the past week, attempting to restore a semblance of normality about a situation that is anything but.
The Tasmanian is among the many members of the touring party feeling desperately unhappy about the fate of Smith, who passed on the captaincy to Paine with an emotional hug and handshake before checking out of the team hotel.
"It's been strange and very difficult. I don't think my wife's too happy, I've hardly seen her for the last couple of days and she's come over," Paine said.
"A lot of the guys were thinking about some other things or were a little bit flat (on Friday)."
Smith's angst has also had an impact on South Africa.
Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis sent his former Indian Premier League teammate a message of support, while opener Aiden Markram admitted "both sides are pretty drained after what happened last week".
"It was a lot worse for the Australians but it still had an impact on us," Markram said.
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