‘Squashed it as fast as they could’: David Warner calls for India ball-tampering probe

David Warner has accused Cricket Australia of sweeping the India A ball-tampering accusation under the carpet, suggesting officials had quickly “squashed” the issue before the Test summer.

Warner officially declared closure on his own ball-tampering scandal on Wednesday, after being announced as the Sydney Thunder’s new BBL captain. The 38-year-old’s appointment comes just a fortnight after his lifetime leadership ban was lifted, removing the last remaining sanction from Australia’s 2018 ball-tampering saga.

Warner and Steve Smith were also banned from all international and Australian domestic cricket for a year after the Cape Town incident, while Cameron Bancroft copped a nine-month suspension. The penalties were the harshest ever handed down for ball-tampering in global cricket, with the trio’s reputations also damaged as a result.

But the accusations in Mackay on Sunday have served as another reminder of the ongoing issue.

Umpire Shawn Craig accused India of having caused a “scratch” on the ball during the fourth innings of the tour match against Australia A. The ball was changed before the fourth morning as a result and both teams notified, but within hours India A players were effectively cleared and escaped any sanction.

“They have obviously squashed it as fast as they could, given that India is coming out here this summer,” Warner said when asked about the matter on Wednesday. “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.”

Asked if it should be irrelevant that India were coming out for five Tests this summer, Warner said: “That’s what I am saying”.

“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.”

Umpires also opted not to report India A wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan for dissent following the game, after he told Craig it was “stupid” to have switched to the ball they had. Cricket Australia remain adamant no evidence could be found on how the ball was scratched in Mackay.

“The correct process was followed for the replacement of the ball,” a CA spokesperson said. “The officials then determined on the information available no further action was required.”

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The incident threatened to ignite another off-field stoush between CA and the all-powerful Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

India had threatened to withdraw from the 2007-08 tour when Harbhajan Singh was accused of calling Andrew Symonds a monkey by Australian players, and the spinner was banned for three Tests. The ban was later lifted following an appeal from India, who claimed Harbhajan did not use the racial slur.

India also threatened to skip the Test series decider at the Gabba on their most recent tour in 2020-21, unhappy with the COVID protocols required to enter Queensland.

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