Cricket Australia asked to investigate India A's 'ball-tampering scandal': 'They have obviously squashed it'

Former Australia cricketers David Warner and Ed Cowan have urged Cricket Australia to investigate the alleged ball-tampering scandal that broke out during the first unofficial Test between Australia A and India A in Mackay last week.

On Day four of the first Test between the two sides on Sunday, match officials had informed India A’s players that the ball had been changed due to scratches. “When you scratch it, we change the ball. No more discussion, let’s play,” umpire Shawn Craig told the players. Ishan Kishan, however, was miffed and termed it as a “stupid decision” to change the ball.

Warner wants action against allegations

Cricket Australia, however, later clarified that the ball change was due to “deterioration”, and ball tampering was not the issue. The entire India A team avoided sanctions as there was no evidence regarding the scratch . This comes ahead of the senior Indian team’s five-match Test series against Australia starting from 22 November and Warner said that Cricket Australia “squashed it” as fast as they could.

“They have obviously squashed it as fast as they could, given that India is coming out here this summer,” Warner, who himself was part of the infamous 2018 ball-tampering scandal during the Cape Town Test, said at a press conference on Wednesday.

“But if the umpires deemed something happened, I am sure there will be a follow up. The umpires or the match referee should be standing here answering questions,” the 38-year-old added.

“That’s what I am saying”, Warner said when asked about the relevance of India travelling to Australia for the upcoming Test series. The former opener called on the match referee to take the initiative. “I think the match referee should be coming out and addressing his own staff, which are the umpires. And if they’re sticking by the umpire’s decisions, you have to stand up for that. That’s obviously a statement CA has to release. I have not seen anything,” he continued.

Ed Cowan left shell shocked

Cowan was left shocked by the incident. “He’s (Craig) had no support from his employer,” Cowan told ABC Cricket podcast. “The issue is similar to any other time India are aggrieved, they threaten to maybe pull out of a tour or threaten X, Y or Z and people retreat.

“Having heard the audio, that an umpire thought it had been scratched. I’m in a bit of shock actually that an actual press release would come out and say … that it’s like nothing more to see here, we’re going to keep on moving to this Test series that hopefully go to fixing the hole in our balance sheet. My underlying issue here is you can’t choose when integrity matters,” stated the former opener.

Cricket Australia, on their part, said that the matter had been closed since no evidence of scratching the ball could be found. “The correct process was followed for the replacement of the ball. The officials then determined on the information available no further action was required,” said a spokesperson of Cricket Australia.

Cape Town Test ball-tampering scandal in 2018

Warner had been banned for 12 months by Cricket Australia in the aftermath of the Cape Town Test ball-tampering scandal, where Cameron Bancroft was seen using sandpaper on the ball. Steve Smith too played a leading role in the “Sandpapergate” controversy.

Warner was handed a lifetime leadership ban by Cricket Australia, which was lifted recently. Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft were given suspensions of 12 months and nine months respectively by Cricket Australia. Warner was on Wednesday named skipper of Sydney Thunder ahead of the new Big Bash League (BBL) season in Australia.