AUS A vs IND A: David Warner questions Cricket Australia’s silence over controversial ball change
Australia A defeated India A by seven wickets in the game.
Newly appointed Sydney Thunder captain David Warner has asked Cricket Australia (CA) to explain in detail about a potential ball tampering incident concerning team India. Notably, on the final day of the game between Australia A and India A in Mackay, the on-field umpires called for a new ball but they observed scratches on the old ones. A different ball was handed to the visitors, which infuriated keeper Ishan Kishan and called the decision ‘stupid’.
“You scratch it, we change the ball. There will be no more discussion, let's play,” umpire Shawn Craig said before warning Kishan that he would be charged for dissent. Meanwhile, the matter was closed there but the discussions never ended. CA later released a statement stating that the ball ‘deteriorated’ and for the same reason, a new ball came into play.
Watch the video of the incident below:
Warner wasn’t fully convinced and neither of the CA officials have commented on the matter. He feels that the matter has been squashed given that India is set to travel to Australia later in the month for the marque Border-Gavaskar series. He opined that if umpires believe that India had something to do with the ball, leading to its damage, they should come forward and address the issue and answer the questions of the people.
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“The ultimate decision is with CA, isn't it? I think they have obviously squashed it as fast as they could, given that India is coming out here this summer. But if the umpires deem something happened, I am sure there will be a follow-up. I think the umpires or the match referee should be standing here answering questions,” Warner said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
“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 have to release. I have not seen anything,” the 38-year-old added.
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