Warner Calls for CA to Clarify India A Ball Change Incident

David Warner has urged Cricket Australia (CA) to provide a full explanation regarding the ball change that took place on the final day of the Australia A-India A game in Mackay.

The ball change caused frustration among the Indian players, particularly wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan, who expressed his displeasure when the umpires handed them a new ball. Audio from the stump microphone revealed umpire Shawn Craig telling Kishan that the original ball had scratches on it, and warned that Kishan would be reported for calling the decision "stupid."

"You scratch it, we change the ball," Craig said. "There will be no more discussion, let's play."

Later, CA issued a statement confirming that the ball had "deteriorated" and that no further action would be taken. The statement also clarified that both teams' captains and managers had been informed of the decision before play resumed.

Warner, who admitted he didn’t have full knowledge of the incident but had observed the on-field exchanges, suggested that the matter had been quickly "squashed" ahead of India's arrival for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.

“The ultimate decision is with CA, isn’t it? I think they’ve obviously squashed it as fast as they could, given that India is coming out here this summer,” Warner said. “But if the umpires deemed something happened, I’m sure there’ll be a follow-up. I think the umpires or the match referee should be standing here answering questions.”

Warner added, “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 has to release. I haven’t seen anything.”

It is understood that there is no footage to suggest any improper alteration of the ball.

Under the laws of cricket, a five-run penalty is imposed if the umpires determine that the ball has been unfairly tampered with. However, the CA playing conditions include a clause allowing the umpires to change the ball without applying penalty runs if it is unclear how the ball was damaged.

Warner’s remarks came on the same day he was announced as the new captain of Sydney Thunder, after the overturning of his lifetime leadership ban, which had been imposed following the Newlands ball-tampering scandal in 2018.

“The punishment that was handed down was there for a reason, and I thoroughly accept that,” Warner said. “You're always going to be disappointed that you can't lead, but what was done was done, and I’ve moved on from that.”

He continued, “But I get the opportunity to lead the Thunder and share my wealth of knowledge about the game. Hopefully, some of the youngsters can come ask me some questions after the game, decisions I’ve made, or errors I might have made, and have that confidence. Hopefully, one day they can grow into a captain as well.”