The ongoing three-match unofficial Test series between India A and Australia A has been riddled with heightened ball tampering accusations. Its been so far a difficult tour for the visitors as India A had to cope with a lot of blame and criticism from the fans and the officials for their alleged involvement in ball tampering in the first unofficial Test at Mackay.

The Indian side were visibly upset after seeing the umpires change the ball against their wishes. Ishan Kishan came under the scanner for his heated exchange with the umpire Shawn Craig and called his decision to change the ball "stupid". In response, Craig replied by cautioning the wicket-keeper batter that he would be on the report the following day for his offensive remarks. 

Fortunately, Ishan Kishan was spared by Cricket Australia and the match officials for that match and no sanction was applied on him. However, this move was later criticized by former Aussie opener David Warner questioned the umpire's decision to change the ball. 

So what's all the fuss again with the ball?

In the second unofficial Test, India A players were once again caught in the eye of a storm for a rather less offensive ball-related incident in Melbourne. In this recent video, players could be seen having a chat with the umpires about a particular substance that was found on the ball. As per the commentators on air at that time, the substance that could have been on the ball may have been mud or some sort of an artificial substance like white paint. 

pic.twitter.com/kVMQYjAC0K

— A (@cricketvf) November 8, 2024

Nevertheless, the exchange was by no means a welcoming one as India A pacer Prasidh Krishna was seen visibly disturbed when he was asked to remove the mud under the supervision of the umpire. 

Where does the match stand?

Australia A bowlers have once again managed to get the better of the India A batters in the second Test. Australia A managed to secure a valuable 62-run lead, courtesy of a fighting 74 from the opener Marcus Harris. Meanwhile, KL Rahul and Abhimanyu Easwaran failed to deliver with the bat yet again as India A were reduced to 73/5 at the end of day two's play in the second four-day game against Australia A on Friday.  

See also: Former Australian wicketkeeper accused India A of ball tampering

Australia A’s Michael Neser put on an impressive performance against India A in the second unofficial Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, only to be struck by injury midway through his fiery spell. The seamer made an instant impact with the ball, reducing India A to a precarious 4-0 within the first three overs of the day. His exceptional opening spell was capped by a sensational double-wicket maiden, taking the wickets of Abhimanyu Easwaran and Sai Sudharsan in quick succession. Following that, Ruturaj Gaikwad was dismissed cheaply, leaving India A in deep trouble early in their innings.

Neser’s brilliant spell derailed by injury

However, in the midst of his remarkable performance, disaster struck. After sending down just 12 deliveries in his 13th over, Neser felt discomfort in his left hamstring. Cricket Australia confirmed that he would not take any further part in the game. The injury cut short a blistering performance that had put India A on the backfoot, leaving Australia A in a strong position.

Can Neser recover in time for Border-Gavaskar trophy?

Despite the early injury, there remains hope for Neser’s participation in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. It is highly unlikely that he will feature in the series opener in Perth, as the gap between the first and second Tests is just 10 days. However, this short recovery window could allow Neser to recover and be available for the remainder of the series. Furthermore, his inclusion could help manage the workload of Australia’s key pacers like Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.

This is not the first time Neser has struggled with injury. A similar issue occurred during his last Sheffield Shield appearance, leading to his absence from a One-Day Cup match soon after. At the time, he attributed the discomfort to running on an outfield made harder by extra sand due to the Australian Football season. His claims were supported by fellow bowlers Mitchell Starc and Sean Abbott, both of whom have faced similar issues with cramps and heavy legs.

See Also: Watch: Alzarri Joseph's on-field clash with Shai Hope sparks drama in ODI win over England

Despite the injury setback, Australia A finished Day 1 on top, dismissing India A for just 161 runs. The early breakthroughs from Neser, though cut short, were pivotal in the collapse of India A's top order. In response, Australia A had some early setbacks with the dismissals of Nathan McSweeney and Cameron Bancroft, but they were still in a strong position, ending the day 108 runs behind with eight wickets in hand.

While Michael Neser’s injury is a blow to Australia A's progress in the second unofficial Test, the team remains hopeful that he will recover in time for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His superb performance against India A showcased his potential to be a key player in Australia’s fast-bowling attack. With a 10-day gap before the second Test, there’s a possibility that Neser could return, ensuring his place in the squad to help Australia compete at the highest level. In the meantime, Australia A will look to capitalize on their strong position and complete a dominant performance against India A.

India’s KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel are scheduled to fly to Australia ahead of the main squad to secure valuable match practice before India’s five-Test series against Australia, set to commence on November 22 in Perth. Both batters will feature in the India A team for their second and final four-day match against Australia A, which will take place at the MCG starting on November 7. The India A squad, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, aims to make a strong comeback after a seven-wicket loss in the first match in Mackay, which ended controversially due to a ball-change issue. This additional game will allow Rahul and Jurel to get familiar with the challenging Australian conditions before joining the senior team for the main series.

Rahul and Jurel head to Australia early for crucial practice

Rahul, who has struggled to find form in recent Test outings, is looking to regain his confidence after being left out of India's XI for the second and third Tests against New Zealand. He was replaced by Shubman Gill, with whom the management seems keen to experiment following a 3-0 defeat at home. For Jurel, this early opportunity is equally crucial as he attempts to establish his place in India’s Test plans. Having last played in the Test series against England, Jurel has not featured in the five home Tests since Rishabh Pant’s return. With limited red-ball exposure, Jurel's recent outings have included a Duleep Trophy match and a notable 93-run innings in the Irani Cup, showcasing his potential to make a comeback.

India's preparations under Rohit’s strategic approach

Sending Rahul and Jurel ahead signifies India’s intent to maximize match practice. Originally, the Indian team had planned an intra-squad warm-up fixture in Perth to acclimate, but captain Rohit Sharma explained the change in plans, emphasizing the need for focused match simulations instead. The team, he reasoned, would benefit more from these dedicated simulations than a conventional practice game. "We’re traveling with a 19-man squad and have just three days. A practice game won’t offer everyone adequate time," Rohit noted, adding that simulation sessions allow batters and bowlers to gain the middle time they need to prepare rigorously.

See Also: Australian Summer Kicks off with Starc’s fiery spell against Pakistan

The Indian squad, departing on November 10, will train at Perth’s iconic WACA ground ahead of the Test series opener at Optus Stadium, a venue where they last played in 2018-19, securing a memorable 2-1 series win. Notably, captain Rohit Sharma may be unavailable for the opening match due to personal reasons, leaving Abhimanyu Easwaran, who has been in excellent domestic form, as a potential opener. Easwaran, who was drafted as Rohit's replacement, has already had a taste of Australian conditions but managed only modest scores in the first A game.

India’s five-Test series in Australia marks a significant challenge, and with star players joining early and meticulous training plans, the team is working to be well-prepared for this high-stakes tour.

The troubles for the Indian team have already begun even before the start of the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Controversy erupted when match officials made the decision to change the ball before the start of the play on Sunday in the first unofficial Test. India A players were informed that the ball was changed since the umpires felt that the ball was tampered at some point in the match.  

Umpire Shawn Craig is the man who brought this development to the team’s attention. Understandably so, the decision was not well received by the India A players and they soon began protesting the on-field umpire’s decision. 

Heated conversation between Kishan and the on-field umpires

Once the decision regarding ball change was made, Umpire Craig replied firmly to the Indian players stating that once the ball is scratched it ought to be changed and refrained from getting into further discussion. India A wicket-keeper batter Ishan Kishan was livid by that call and called it a stupid decision. 

India A accused of Ball Tampering.

Shawn Craig - "When you scratch it, we change the ball. No more discussion, let's play. This is not a discussion."

Ishan Kishan - "So we have to play with this ball?"

S Craig - "You're playing with that ball."

I Kishan - "That's a very… pic.twitter.com/iKDoH0ZVDf

— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) November 3, 2024

Such remarks were not welcomed by the on-field umpire and Kishan was later informed that he will be reported for the same. Surprisingly enough, the officials did not offer any explanation on how the ball was tampered and did not offer a 5-run penalty to Australia A.

See Also: Shai Hope shines in West Indies captain achievements with a century

Players implicated in the ball tampering incident may face suspensions if it is determined that the team deliberately altered the condition of the ball, as outlined in Cricket Australia's code of conduct. However, Kishan ended up on the fortunate side and was spared by the governing body despite his rash remarks against the on-field umpires.

Sitanshu Kotak, one of India's most respected cricket coaches, is all set to accompany the India A team as head coach on their upcoming tour to Australia. The India A team, led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, will play two matches against Australia's A team. The first game is scheduled for October 31 at GBRA in Mackay, followed by the second game at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground on November 7. Following the two matches, the India A side will play a practice match against the Indian senior team at WACA, Perth.

Kotak to guide India A in Australia

See Also: Virat Kohli just 55 runs away from 16,000 runs record ahead of Pune Test

Gaikwad to lead, Easwaran named vice-captain

Ruturaj Gaikwad will lead the team, with Abhimanyu Easwaran serving as vice-captain. Easwaran has been in tremendous form on the domestic circuit, making him a strong contender for a reserve opening spot in India's main Test squad. The team will also include young talents like Sai Sudharsan, who recently scored a double century in the Ranji Trophy, and other key players like Devdutt Padikkal and Baba Indrajith in the middle order.

The bowling department features Khaleel Ahmed and Yash Dayal, both of whom are competing for a left-arm seamer position in India's main squad. With key Test series ahead, this tour is crucial for India A players, offering them a chance to prove their mettle and potentially earn spots in the senior team.