Former Australia openers Ed Cowan and David Warner have criticized Cricket Australia over allegations of ball tampering in the first Australia A vs India A Test.

Speaking on the ABC Cricket podcast, Cowan said Cricket Australia (CA) put money before integrity in a harsh rebuke.

Umpire Shawn Craig on Sunday accused India A of causing a “scratch” on the ball during the fourth innings of the tour match against Australia A.

“When you scratch it, we change the ball. No more arguing,” Craig told the Indian players.

As a result, the ball was changed before the fourth morning and both teams notified, but within hours the India A players were effectively acquitted and escaped any sanction with no evidence of the cause of the scratch being found.

India goalkeeper Ishan Kishan also escaped punishment despite calling referee Craig’s decision “stupid”.

Cowan, who played 18 Tests for Australia and is a member of ABC Sport’s commentary team, said Craig had been “hung out to dry” at the ABC Cricket Podcast.

“He hasn’t had support from his employer,” Cowan said.

“The problem is similar to any other time when India is aggrieved, they threaten to pull out of a tour or they threaten X, Y or Z and people walk away.

“Listening to the audio, a referee thought he had been scratched.

Charging…

“I’m actually a little shocked that a press release comes out and says… there’s nothing more to see here, we’re going to continue moving forward with this series of tests that will hopefully help fix the hole in our balance.

Meanwhile, Warner said the entire incident was “squashed” as a result of India’s upcoming tour and that Cricket Australia had swept the allegation under the carpet.

“They’ve obviously squashed it as quickly as they could, given that India is coming here this summer,” Warner said Wednesday.

“But if the referees consider that something happened, I’m sure there will be a follow-up.

“The referees or the match referee should be here to answer questions.”

Asked whether it should be irrelevant that India participated in five Tests this summer, Warner said: “That’s what I’m saying.”

“I think the match referee should go out and address his own staff, which are the referees.

Charging…

“And if they stick to the referee’s decisions, you have to defend that. That’s obviously a statement that CA has to publish. I haven’t seen anything.”

Warner was named Sydney Thunder’s new BBL captain on Wednesday, a fortnight after CA lifted his lifetime leadership ban as the governing body removed the last remaining sanction from the 2018 ball-tampering saga.

Warner and Steve Smith were handed 12-month bans by CA over the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal, while Cameron Bancroft was handed a nine-month suspension after cameras clearly caught him applying sandpaper to the ball. ball in the test.

CA remains adamant that no evidence could be found as to how the ball was scratched at Mackay and that the matter was considered legitimately closed.

“The correct process was followed for the replacement of the ball. The referees then determined, based on the information available, that no further action was necessary,” a CA spokesperson said.

ABC/AAP