India A vs Australia A's unofficial Test match in Mackay witnessed a lot of drama on the fnal day as the Indian team as accused of tampering with the ball and star wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan was accused of "inappropriate behaviour" after heated argument with umpires. Before Sunday, November 3, play started, tensions increased, and Ishan might face consequences if officials accuse him of on-field "dissent."
Ishan Kishan's fight with umpire Shawn Craig may result in fines, according to local media. The start of play at the Great Barrier Reef Arena on Day 4 was delayed when the umpires changed the ball, citing "scratch marks" on the previous one. Indian players were spotted disputing with the umpires, and Craig was overheard on the stump mic declaring that the tourists were responsible for the scratching.
Ishan and umpires in a heated argument
Ishan Kishan and umpire Shawn got into a heated argument after Kishan complained about the ball change.
"You scratch it, we change the ball. There will be no more discussion; let’s play. This is not a discussion; you will be playing with that ball," umpire Shawn told the Indian players, as quoted by The Age.
Ishan replied, calling the decision "very stupid," which further irritated the umpire.
"Excuse me, you will be penalised for dissent. That is inappropriate behaviour; it is because of your actions that we changed the ball," umpire Shawn retorted.
It is unclear how serious the accusations of ball-tampering are. According to Cricket Australia's Code of Conduct, players who are found guilty of changing the ball's condition may be subject to fines and possibly even bans. When play finally started on Sunday with the new ball, Australia A won by seven wickets. They finished Day 3 with 139 for 3, needing 86 runs to win on the last day.
With an undefeated 88 and 61 from captain Nathan McSweeney and Beau Webster, Australia A picked up a resounding victory. Now the second unofficial Test will be played in Melbourne, on November 7.
