"I think they’ve obviously squashed it as fast as they could" - David Warner on ball-tampering allegations levelled against India A
David Warner was unconvinced by Cricket Australia's (CA) explanation behind the damaged ball during the first unofficial Test between India A and Australia A in Mackay. After finding several scratches, the umpires changed the ball ahead of the final day, leading to a confrontation with the India A players, who denied any wrongdoing.
A statement by CA later clarified that the reason behind the tampered ball is unknown, and no one will face sanctions for it. The matter was seemingly put to rest with Australia A securing a comfortable victory.
However, former Australia wicketkeeper Ian Healy opined that the visitors were up to something to get some reverse swing and try to get back into the match which had slipped away from their grasp. In response, a source from the India A camp theorized that the ball may have gotten scratched after hitting a nail on the advertising boards during play.
Warner believes that the CA looked to bury the incident as soon as possible, given that it happened right before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
"I think the ultimate decision’s with CA, isn’t it? “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," Warner told reporters
“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,” he added
Ishan Kishan was close to landing in trouble after labeling the umpire's decision to change the ball as 'stupid', but got away with only an unofficial warning on the field.
"I did see the replay of the umpire giving his stern words" - David Warner
Warner noted how he watched the viral clip of the India A players confronting the umpires, and following the eventual conversation between the two parties after it was caught on the stump mic.
“I did see the replay of the umpire giving his stern words, which has been happening the last couple of years here in Australia. A lot of cricket players have been giving dissent to the umpires, which I think they’ve taken a pretty good approach to that," Warner added
The second unofficial Test between India A and Australia A is scheduled to begin on Thursday, November 7, in Melbourne