Former Australia openers Ed Cowan and David Warner have slammed Cricket Australia over the ball tampering allegations in the first Australia A vs India A Test.
Speaking on the ABC Cricket podcast, Cowan said Cricket Australia (CA) put money over integrity in a stinging rebuke.
Umpire Shawn Craig on Sunday accused India A of having caused a “scratch” on the ball during the fourth innings of the tour match against Australia A.
“When you scratch it, we change the ball. No more discussion,” Craig told India’s players.
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 with no evidence found of what caused the scratch.
India wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan also escaped sanction despite calling umpire Craig’s decision “stupid”.
Cowan, who played 18 Tests for Australia and is a member of the ABC Sport commentary team, said Craig had been “hung out to dry,” on the ABC Cricket Podcast.
“He’s had no support from his employer,” Cowan said.
Ed Cowan said the umpire had been hung out to dry. (Getty Images: Mark Metcalfe)
“The issue is similar to any other time India are aggrieved, they threaten to maybe pull out of a tour or threaten X, Y or Z and people retreat.
“Having heard the audio, that an umpire thought it had been scratched.
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“I’m in a bit of shock actually that an actual press release would come out and say … that it’s like nothing more to see here, we’re going to keep on moving to this Test series that hopefully go to fixing the hole in our balance sheet.
“My underlying issue here is you can’t choose when integrity matters.”
Warner, meanwhile, said the entire incident was “squashed” as a result of India’s upcoming tour and that Cricket Australia had swept the accusation under the carpet.
“They have obviously squashed it as fast as they could, given that India is coming out here this summer,” Warner said on Wednesday.
“But if the umpires deemed something happened, I am sure there will be a follow up.
“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.
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“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.”
Warner was appointed Sydney Thunder’s new BBL captain on Wednesday, a fortnight after his lifetime leadership ban was lifted by CA as the governing body removed the last remaining sanction from the 2018 ball-tampering saga.
Warner and Steve Smith were given 12-month bans by CA over the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal, while Cameron Bancroft received a nine-month ban after cameras clearly caught him applying sandpaper to the ball in the Test.
CA remain adamant no evidence could be found on how the ball was scratched in Mackay, and that the matter was rightfully considered closed.
“The correct process was followed for the replacement of the ball. The officials then determined on the information available no further action was required,” a CA spokesperson said.
ABC/AAP
