ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 21: Ben Laughlin of the Strikers reacts after taking the wicket of Shane Watson of the Sydney Thunder during the Big Bash League Semi Final match between the Adelaide Strikers and the Sydney Thunder at Adelaide Oval on January 21, 2016 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
Cricket Australia's Integrity unit will look into an exchange that took place between Channel Ten commentator Mark Howard and Adelaide Strikers captain Brad Hodge on Wednesday night.
Channel Ten statistician Lawrie Colliver told the audience that Strikers bowler Ben Laughlin was in form when bowling to Sydney Thunder captain Shane Watson, with Laughlin dismissing the former Test player with two of the last eight balls he's bowled to him.
Howard then passed on the statistic to Hodge who was mic'd up for the Channel Ten coverage, and Hodge proceeded to bring Laughlin on in the next over.
"Our master statistician Lawrie Colliver tells us Laughlin has got Watson twice in the last eight balls he's bowled him in this competition," Howard said.
"Really?" Hodge replied.
"I'll leave that with you skipper," Howard added.
"I'll bring him on next over then. Let's get him into the game. Next over bud," Hodge said cheerfully.
The ploy didn't work for the Strikers as Watson went on to make 39 before falling to the bowling of Jake Lehmann.
"Australian cricket has a long-standing, proactive approach to sports integrity management," A CA spokesperson said.
"We educate our broadcasters at the beginning of each season in the area of Cricket Australia’s Integrity codes and policies so they fully understand the extent we take to ensure the integrity of cricket in the country.
"We are disappointed with the comments made on the BBL broadcast last night, and expressed this concern immediately to Channel 10 when it occurred.
"Cricket Australia’s Integrity unit is looking into the matter further to ensure the comments made during the broadcast did not jeopardise the integrity of last night’s match."