Ishan Kishan escaped a dissent charge after his on-field argument with the umpire during India A’s match with Australia A that was played at Mackay. Tha verbal altercation happened on the fourth day when the umpires decided to change the ball.
Umpire Shawn Craig started what appears to be a ball-change issue rather than a ball-tampering dispute that took center stage in Mackay.
Before the first ball of the last day, umpire Shawn Craig informed the Indian players that the ball had been changed because it had been scratched, raising the possibility of ball tampering, although a Cricket Australia statement later stated that it was due to "deterioration".
"You scratch it, we change the ball. No more discussion, let's play," Craig was heard saying over the stump microphones.
That led to a heated exchange with Kishan who replied: "So we are going to play with this ball…that's a very stupid decision."
Craig responded: "Excuse me, you'll be on report for dissent. That's inappropriate behavior. Because of your actions, we changed the ball."
The match between Australia A and India A is being played under Cricket Australia's Sheffield Shield and Second XI playing conditions, which allow umpires to replace the ball without enforcing the penalty.
CA playing condition 41.3.4 reads: "If the umpires together suspect, but are not certain, that the condition of the ball has been unfairly changed, or that its condition is inconsistent with the use it has received, the umpires may: Change the ball forthwith. The umpires shall choose a replacement ball for one of similar wear and of the same brand as the ball in use before the contravention; the Bowler's end umpire shall issue the captain with a first and final warning."
Three hours after the match ended, CA published a statement claiming that the ball had been changed due to "deterioration," contradicting what was heard over the stump microphones during the coverage.
"The ball used in the fourth innings of the match was changed due to deterioration. Both teams' captains and managers were informed of the decision before the start of play. No further action is being taken,” the CA statement read.
Kishan will also escape any punishment despite his exchange with Craig.
Kishan, like India A captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, is not in India's Test team for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Prasidh Krishna from the first game's XI will be retained for the Test series.
(ESPNCricinfo inputs)
