CRICKET Australia’s integrity unit is investigating an on-air exchange between commentator Mark Howard and Adelaide Strikers skipper Brad Hodge during Wednesday night’s Big Bash League match.

Hodge, speaking to Network Ten pundits during the clash between his Strikers and the Sydney Thunder, was told of Ben Laughlin’s impressive recent record against Shane Watson.

Laughlin had dismissed Watson twice in his previous eight deliveries to the Thunder captain.

“Really?” Hodge said.

“I’ll leave that with you skipper,” Howard replied.

Hodge added he would bring Laughlin on next over and that was exactly what happened.

Jake Lehmann was responsible for Watson’s wicket during the Strikers’ 77-run victory but Cricket Australia (CA) was decidedly unimpressed with the dialogue.

More than $3 billion is set to be wagered across this BBL season, with CA desperate to keep its sport free of anything that carries even the semblance of corruption.

“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,” a CA spokesperson said on Thursday.

“We are disappointed with the comments made on the BBL broadcast last night, and expressed this concern immediately to Channel Ten when it occurred.

“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.”

Network Ten apologised over the incident on Thursday, noting “the comments were in no way intended to advise Adelaide Strikers captain Brad Hodge on game tactics or influence the outcome of the game”.