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David Warner wants Cricket Australia to provide more information about why umpires changed the ball before the start of the final day’s play of the first unofficial Test between India A and Australia A in Mackay last week.
David Warner wants more clarity over ball changing controversy in India A match. (Picture Credit: X/@cricket.com.au)
Former Australian opening batter David Warner wants Cricket Australia to provide more clarity over the ball-changing controversy that took place during the first unofficial Test played between India A and Australia A in Mackay last week. The match ball was changed by the on-field umpires before the start of the final day’s play, and Indian players were not happy with the decision.
Indian wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan was reportedly involved in a heated exchange with on-field umpire Shawn Craig over his decision, and he received a warning for his act.
“When you scratch it, we change the ball. There will be no more discussion; let’s play. This is not a discussion; you will be playing with that ball,” on-field umpire Shawn was quoted as saying to the Indian players on the field before the start of play.
Not pleased by the umpire’s harsh decision, Kishan was caught telling Craig that it “is a very stupid decision” to play with the new ball, to which the umpire replied, “Excuse me, you’ll be on report for dissent. That’s inappropriate behaviour. Because of your actions, we changed the ball.”
After the match got over, which the hosts won by seven wickets on Sunday (November 3), Cricket Australia released a statement that read, “The ball used in the fourth innings of the match was changed due to deterioration. Both teams’ captain and manager were informed of the decision prior to the start of play. No further action is being taken.”
Warner, who was banned for 12 months in March 2018 for his involvement in a ball tampering incident, while speaking to reporters on Wednesday said that the incident had been “squashed” ahead of India’s five-match Test series in Australia.
“I think the ultimate decision’s with CA, isn’t it?” Warner told reporters.
“I think they’ve obviously squashed it as fast as they could, given that India’s coming out here this summer. But if the umpires deem that something happened, then I’m sure there’ll be a follow-up, and I think the umpires or the match referee should be standing here answering those questions. The match referee should be coming out and addressing his own staff, who are the umpires, and if they’re sticking by the umpire’s decisions, then you’ve got to stand up for that.
“I think that’s obviously a statement that CA probably needs to release,” he added.
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Sydney, Australia
