The ongoing unofficial Test series between India A and Australia A has been marred by a series of ball-tampering controversies. In the first Test in Mackay, India A players were accused of altering the condition of the ball, leading to its replacement overnight. The incident sparked a heated exchange between the players and umpire Shawn Craig, with former Australia captain David Warner also questioning the decision.
Cricket Australia (CA) later dismissed the allegations against India A, stating that the ball was changed due to deterioration. However, in the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, India A players were once again involved in a ball-related incident.
In a viral video, the players can be seen having a conversation with the umpire, pointing out a substance on the ball. Commentators suggested that the substance could be either mud or white paint. Pacer Prasidh Krishna appeared particularly agitated during the discussion.
The incident occurred as India A struggled in their second innings, losing five wickets for just 25 runs. Wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel and Nitish Kumar Reddy were the only batsmen to offer any resistance, with India A trailing by 11 runs at the end of day two.
The ball-tampering allegations have cast a shadow over the series, which is intended to provide opportunities for players to impress ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The incidents have raised questions about the integrity of the game and the need for stricter measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
