‘You scratch it, we change the ball’: Indians upset after umpires make switch

A possible ball tampering storm for India and potential diplomatic crisis for Cricket Australia dissipated almost as rapidly as they appeared on a decidedly curious final day of the selection trial match in Mackay.

India A’s players were incensed by a change of ball on the final morning of their game against Australia A, with the furore delaying the start of play.

In scenes captured on the Cricket Australia and Foxtel livestream, umpire Shawn Craig spoke with India A’s players, explaining why the ball was changed overnight.

The India A players looked dismayed by the decision, which overshadowed Australia A’s seven-wicket victory. The Australian victory was driven by an unbeaten 88 from captain and Test team contender Nathan McSweeney, who also top-scored in the first innings on a difficult pitch.

Craig could be heard saying via stump microphones: “You scratch it, we change the ball. There will be no more discussion, let’s play. This is not a discussion, you will be playing with that ball.”

Wicketkeeper and India international Ishan Kishan took the matter up with Craig, and according to commentators was heard saying “that is a very stupid decision”.

Craig replied, “Excuse me, you will be on dissent. That is inappropriate behaviour, it is because of your actions we changed the ball.”

But several hours after the game concluded, CA released a statement of explanation that appeared to walk back Craig’s words, both about why the ball was changed and whether Kishan would be on a dissent charge.

“The ball used in the fourth innings of the match was changed due to deterioration,” a spokesperson said. “Both teams’ captain and manager were informed of the decision prior to the start of play. No further action is being taken.”

That statement, which did not explain the nature of the “deterioration”, nonetheless removed the prospect of an ugly conflict at the outset of India’s lucrative tour of Australia for five Tests.

Under CA playing conditions for domestic matches, umpires have the power to change the ball if they suspect ball tampering but are unsure of its origin. They are also able to change the ball without imposing the five-run penalty that has been the customary on-field sanction for changing the condition of the ball.

“If the umpires together suspect, but are not certain, that the condition of the ball has been unfairly changed, or that its condition is inconsistent with the use it has received, the umpires may: Change the ball forthwith. The umpires shall choose a replacement ball for one of similar wear and of the same brand as the ball in use prior to the contravention. [The] bowler’s end umpire shall issue the captain with a first and final warning.”

Craig, a former Victoria cricketer, has been umpiring at international women’s level since 2014 and men’s international level since 2019. He is the senior member of the umpiring panel in Mackay, which also comprises Ben Treloar and match referee Kent Hannam.

Changing the condition of the ball is a level three offence under the CA code of conduct, with the possibility of a ban for the players involved.

Accusations of ball tampering have long been a highly contentious topic in cricket. This was exemplified by the 2018 Newlands scandal in which David Warner, Steve Smith and Cameron Bancroft were all handed heavy CA penalties for their role in using sandpaper to work on the ball in a Test match in South Africa.

Indian cricket has previously reacted with outrage at ball tampering accusations, including an extraordinary episode on a 2001 tour of South Africa. On that occasion, the International Cricket Council’s match referee Mike Denness charged six Indian players with a range of offences, but the most hotly contested was that of ball tampering against Sachin Tendulkar, with the penalty of a one-game ban.

The powerful BCCI swung into action to defend Tendulkar and attack Denness, with the bizarre outcome that the third and final game of the series was played as an unofficial Test, not recognised by the ICC, at Centurion. Cricket South Africa provided Denis Lindsay as match referee and Denness was locked out of the ground. He retired as a match referee soon afterwards.

CA also had to deal with the threat of India quitting a tour of Australia in 2007-08, during the Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds “Monkeygate” affair that had the Indian spinner initially banned for racial vilification before the charge was downgraded on appeal.

The India A squad includes three members of the senior India Test squad due to play five Tests in Australia this summer: pace bowler Prasidh Krishna, all-rounder Nitish Kumar and batter Abhimanyu Easwaran.

For McSweeney, the game was another step towards a place in Australia’s Test squad, which is likely to have room for two new batters before one is chosen to play the first Test in Perth.

“I’m playing pretty well at the moment,” he said. “I’m real confident in my game and I’m progressing and batting some of the best innings I’ve played, and hopefully I can continue to learn, get better. If the opportunity comes I’ll be ready.”

Pat Cummins will lead Australia’s ODI team against Pakistan in a day/night game at the MCG on Monday afternoon – Glenn Maxwell’s first at the ground since January 2019.

Australia team: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Aaron Hardie, Glenn Maxwell, Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.

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