Former Australian cricketer and New South Wales Cricket board director Ed Cowan has sparked controversy over the ball-changing incident during the final day of the unofficial first Test between India A and Australia A in Mackay.
Ed Cowan claimed that Cricket Australia (CA) could have handled things very differently if any team other than India had been involved in the ball-changing incident. Cowan has openly said that financial interests in the upcoming high-stakes Test series may have influenced Cricket Australia’s (CA) lack of action over the incident.
Ed Cowan slams Cricket Australia’s (CA) soft stance on ball change incident
In a move that raised eyebrows, India received a new ball on the final morning of the first four-day match after the original was found with scratches. This caused frustration among the Indian players, and Ishan Kishan had a lively argument with umpire Shawn Craig.
“You can’t choose when integrity matters.”
Ed Cowan is of the opinion that India A were cleared of ball tampering earlier this week.
Listen to the full chat on the Grandstand Cricket podcast: pic.twitter.com/kg2DzXtqt3
— ABC SPORT (@abcsport) November 6, 2024
The referee has not had the support of his employer: Ed Cowan
Shawn Craig was even heard on microphone telling the Indian players that his alleged scratching of the ball had caused the change, but Cricket Australia (CA) downplayed his claims by stating that the ball naturally “deteriorated” and that it is That’s why the referee changed the ball.
Also Read: David Warner’s wife makes serious accusations against India after fight with referee Ishan Kishan
Ed Cowan said on ABC Sport’s Grandstand Cricket podcast: “It feels like Shawn Craig has been hung out to dry here, badly. He has had no support from his employer. He saw something on the field (a scratched ball) and, in his best judgment, tried to rectify that. The problem is similar to any other time when India feels aggrieved; they threaten to pull out of a tour or they threaten X, Y, Z, and people walk away. “Part of me just thinks that if this wasn’t India, there would be a totally different reaction.”
Well, Ed Cowan criticized CA, saying the board’s reluctance to address the issue head-on stems from a deep-seated fear of upsetting India, particularly with the lucrative 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy on the horizon. He said the fear of jeopardizing future tours or triggering a possible Indian withdrawal has led CA to sweep the incident under the carpet.
Cowan further argued that CA has maintained a strong stance in upholding “integrity” in the field for others, but with India involved, they have conveniently turned a blind eye. The former cricketer said this incident is a worrying example that a team’s influence can change the course of events simply because of its commercial value.
You can’t peek out when you’re in India: Ed Cowan
The Cricket New South Wales board director further noted: “I’m a bit surprised that an actual press release came out and said: ‘after listening to the audio, a referee thought (the ball) had been scratched and’ “They have the right to change the ball.” It’s like, ‘Oh no, there’s nothing more to say here.’ “We’re going to continue to move toward this series of tests that, hopefully, can help address the hole in our balance sheet.'”
Also Read: ‘Transition will continue’: Rohit Sharma’s Test exit after BGT almost confirmed by former India selector
According to Cowan, the ball change incident highlighted the uncomfortable reality that financial motives trump principles of the game and CA easily kneels before India, and he did not like this very much.
He signed off by saying: “Integrity matters all the time, and if you want to lean on that, you have to lean on the Afghan team and its women’s program; If you want to rely on your own players to scratch the ball, you can’t do that when it comes to India. I don’t like this at all; “That’s my summary.”
