Former Australian wicketkeeper accused India A of ball tampering

The last day of the first unofficial Test between Australia A and India A at McKay ended in a big controversy. While the on-field umpires changed the ball, a legendary Australian wicketkeeper accused the visiting side of involving in ball tampering. 

India A are touring Australia for a two-match unofficial Test against Australia A and another match against the senior Indian national cricket team. 

India A lost the first unofficial Test

The first unofficial Test between Australia A and India A ended with a seven-wicket win for Australia A. After India A were all out for 107 runs, the hosts scored 195 runs. Starting their second innings trailing by 88 runs, India A scored 312 runs. 

While Australia A had a fourth innings target of 225 runs, they reached the target after losing three wickets. 

A ball was changed on the final day

During the fourth or final day of the unofficial Test match, the on-field umpires Ben Treloar and Shawn Craig changed a ball and brought a new ball. According to the reports, the umpires found some unnatural scratches on the ball. India A cricketers questioned the ball change. 

Although there is no serious accusation, Ishan Kishan has been warned for showing dissent. While the umpires didn’t award any penalty runs, which can happen if a team is involved in ball-tampering, Cricket Australia (CA) later clarified that the ball was changed due to “deterioration.”  

Ian Healy made a big comment

However, former Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy has claimed that the India A team tampered with the ball to earn the reverse swing earlier in the small fourth innings chase. 

Healy told SENQ, “When you see a team complain about a ball being changed, they were up to something. India A were gearing up for a big reverse swing session in order to get the Australians under pressure. Australia were chasing a small total and it just didn’t happen (for India A). The Australia A batters were oblivious to it. They just put their head down and performed really well.”

The 2018 Cape Town ball-tampering incident is still fresh in cricket fans' memory. It is famously known as “Sandpapergate” where then-Australian captain Steven Smith, then-vice-captain David Warner, and the main accused Cameron Bancroft were found guilty.