Was it just tactics? Ian Healy questions India A’s bowling moves against Australia A
Xtra Time Web Desk: Former Australian cricketer Ian Healy has raised concerns over India A's tactics during Day 4 of the first unofficial Test against Australia A on November 3 at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay. His comments came after umpires Ben Treloar and Shawn Craig decided to replace the match ball before the start of play on the final day, a decision that reportedly sparked strong reactions from India A players.
The Australian media hinted that the ball change was due to "improper handling" by the Indian players, indirectly suggesting ball-tampering. However, Cricket Australia clarified that no specific allegations of tampering had been made and that the ball was replaced solely due to its deterioration. Despite this, Healy voiced his suspicions, suggesting that India A might have been hoping to use reverse swing to gain an advantage.
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“When you see a team complain about a ball being changed, they were up to something,” Healy told SENQ. “India A were gearing up for a big reverse swing session to put the Australians under pressure. The Australia A batters, however, stayed focused and didn’t let it affect their game.”
Chasing 225 for victory, Australia A were 139/3 with Nathan McSweeney and Beau Webster at the crease when the ball change occurred. The pair went on to build an unbeaten 141-run partnership, guiding their team to a comfortable win. McSweeney finished on 88*, while Webster contributed 61*. After the match, McSweeney stated that he wasn’t fully aware of the reason for the ball change, explaining, “I was at the striker’s end, and the umpires simply said they had changed the ball. I didn’t notice any change myself.”
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India A, trailing 1-0 in the series, will look to bounce back in the second match scheduled to begin on November 7 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel are expected to join the India A lineup in the upcoming game.
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