Warner urges CA to give explanation on India A ball-tampering charge after the first unofficial test between the two.
Warner urges CA to fully explain what happened when the ball was changed on the final day of the Australia A-India A game.
Before play began, the umpires handed the Indian players a different ball, which infuriated them, especially wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan. The stump microphone captured audio of umpire Shawn Craig stating that the previous one had scratches and that Kishan will be reported for calling the judgement “stupid.”
“You scratch it, we change the ball,” Craig said. “There will be no more discussion, let’s play.”
Hours after the game finished, a CA statement said the ball had “deteriorated” and that no further action would be taken. “Both teams’ captain and manager were informed of the decision prior to the start of play,” the statement added.
Warner stated that the matter had been “squashed” in advance of India’s impending visit for the five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy, despite the fact that he was not present for the entire episode but had witnessed the exchanges in the middle.
“The ultimate decision is with CA isn’t it?,” Warner said. “I think they have obviously squashed it as fast as they could. This given that India is coming out here this summer. But if the umpires deemed 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.”
“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.”
It’s understood there is no footage available of anything untoward being done to the ball.