David Warner has leveled fresh criticism over Cricket Australia’s handling of the recent ball-tampering allegations leveled against India’s A side, which have overshadowed Australia A’s seven-wicket win at the weekend.
Warner, who was announced on Wednesday as Sydney Thunder’s new BBL captain, has made headlines of late after his claims he could make a shock turnaround and come out of Test retirement for this summer’s series against India .
Amid Pat Cummins’ selection dilemma, Warner had made the sensational offer to don his baggy green cap again as questions continued to loom over who Australia will pick to open the batting against India.
It also came after Warner’s lifetime leadership ban was lifted on Tuesday, reversing the sanction he received after his involvement in Australia’s 2018 ball-tampering saga.
He and Steve Smith were banned from international and domestic competitions for a year after the ‘Sandpapergate’ incident in Cape Town, in which the cricketers were said to have used sandpaper to roughen the ball to gain an unfair advantage.
David Warner has hit out at Cricket Australia after they cleared India A of ball tampering charges
The Indian A team has been accused of ball tampering in the match against Australia A
The 38-year-old, who had announced his retirement from international Test cricket last year, had vowed to be a mentor to young cricketers following his appointment as the Thunder’s new captain.
But he also alleged that Cricket Australia had swept the decision not to penalize India A for the ball-tampering claims under the carpet.
“They obviously squashed it as quickly as they could with India coming here this summer,” Warner said after being pressed on the matter on Wednesday.
‘If the referees think something has happened, I’m sure there will be a follow-up.
‘I think the referees or the match referee should answer questions here.’
India A was cleared of any wrongdoing by Cricket Australia in a statement after the incident.
Ishan Kishan (below) was reported after calling the referee’s decision ‘stupid’
Australia went on to win the match by seven wickets and their second match followed on Thursday
The Indian players were involved in a heated argument on the field with referee Shawn Craig.
The referees had exchanged the old ball for a new one after it turned out that the ball had been tampered with.
“If you scratch it, we’ll change the ball. No more discussion, let’s play,” the referee was heard saying into the microphone.
Ishan Kishan, India’s wicketkeeper, had been heard calling the decision ‘stupid’, to which Craig replied: ‘You will be reported for dissent, that is very inappropriate behaviour.
He added: ‘Your actions caused us to switch the ball.’
The referee had not explained how he thought the tourists had scratched the ball.
Warner was then asked if he felt it was irrelevant that India would travel to Australia for the five-Test series later this summer. He replied, ‘That’s what I say.
‘I think the match referee should come out and address his own staff, the referees.
‘And if they stick to the referee’s decisions, you have to stand up for that.
“That’s clearly a statement that Cricket Australia needs to release. I didn’t see anything.’
Warner (right) and Steve Smith (left) were banned after tampering with a ball during a match against South Africa in 2018
Warner said the officials and the match referee have questions to answer following the incident
But Cricket Australia has cleared India A of any wrongdoing in the matter, with a spokesperson stating: ‘The ball used in the fourth innings of the match was changed due to deterioration.
The captain and manager of ‘both teams’ were informed of the decision before the start of the game. No further action will be taken.”
India A will look to bounce back from their defeat to the hosts on Thursday as they face off in Melbourne.
It will be the last chance batsmen Nathan McSweeney and Sam Konstas have to impress Pat Cummins before the Australian captain makes his selection for his side’s opening Test against India on November 22.