David Warner has called for Cricket Australia to explain what happened when umpires changed the ball being used by India A in the trial game in Mackay on Sunday.
India A’s players were incensed by a change of ball on the final morning of their game against Australia A, with the furore delaying the start of play.
India A players converge around umpire Shawn Craig in Mackay.Credit: Getty Images
Warner, who has been named captain of the Sydney Thunder after CA overturned a lifetime leadership ban for his role in the 2018 Newlands ball-tampering scandal, suggested the matter had been “squashed” rapidly with India’s Test side about to arrive Down Under.
“I think the ultimate decision’s with CA, isn’t it?” Warner told reporters in Sydney. “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.
“I think 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 need to release.”
In scenes captured on the Cricket Australia and Foxtel livestream, umpire Shawn Craig spoke with India A’s players, explaining why the ball was changed overnight.
The India A players looked dismayed by the decision, which overshadowed Australia A’s seven-wicket victory. The Australian victory was driven by an unbeaten 88 from captain and Test team contender Nathan McSweeney, who also top-scored in the first innings on a difficult pitch.
Craig could be heard saying via stump microphones: “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.”
Wicketkeeper and India international Ishan Kishan took the matter up with Craig, and according to commentators was heard saying “that is a very stupid decision”.
Several hours after the game concluded, CA released a statement that appeared to walk back Craig’s words, both about why the ball was changed and whether Kishan would be on a dissent charge.
“The ball used in the fourth innings of the match was changed due to deterioration,” a spokesperson said. “Both teams’ captain and manager were informed of the decision prior to the start of play. No further action is being taken.”
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