Coronavirus : Is it time to say goodbye to "spit and polish" on the cricket ball?

[MenInG]

While sports events around the world, from soccer to sumo, are being held behind closed doors because of the novel coronavirus outbreak, the India cricket team’s home game will be a damp squib if held without its army of fanatical supporters who act as the twelfth man.

Thursday’s ODI between India and South Africa, the first of a 3-game series, will witness crowds not just from Dharamsala and elsewhere in Himachal Pradesh but also from neighbouring states. However, that raises the threat of coronavirus in a state that depends a lot on tourism for revenue and thankfully hasn’t seen a single positive case.

Both teams, carrying instructions from their doctors, are taking precautions—Proteas will not shake hands—but there are certain things they cannot avoid. Like using saliva to shine the ball or being rude to fans who approach them.

India pace bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar, returning from injury, put things in perspective.

“You can’t say it is dangerous because it has just started in India, but we are taking whatever precautions we can. We have a team doctor who is telling us the dos and don’ts. We are hoping it doesn’t go beyond a limit,” he said on Wednesday.

The team doctors have given some basic advice like washing hands often and keep extra focus on personal hygiene. However, in a game of cricket, players can’t be that choosy.

For example, maintaining the condition of the ball to get it to swing matters a lot. Swing is bread and butter for Bhuvneshwar. To ensure it swings—it can even reverse in a 50-over game—players have to work on the ball using saliva, which can be fraught with risk.

Asked about this, Bhuvneshwar made his clear where his priority lies.

“We have thought about it but if we don’t use saliva, how will we shine the ball? And then we’ll get thrashed and you will say we are not bowling well. But yeah, we have a team doctor travelling with us, we’ll discuss with him and we’ll go with his advice,” he said.

“When it comes to (avoiding) fans, these things we can’t do. In these times, we should try and not go very close to them on our own,” he added, although cricketers rarely get close to fans given the ring of high security.

Hosts Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association has put out information. It has put up boards listing on the precautions to be taken, like avoiding large crowds, although it is a bit out of place as fans will flock to the stadium. It advises people to wear the mask properly. Other directions are to wash hands regularly and get body temperature checked.

HPCA realises a single positive case can hurt the state’s tourism. While the report of all arrivals at the Dharamsala airport is being sent to the Chief Medical Officer, the number of doctors on duty at the HPCA Stadium for the match have gone up from four to 10.

“We are doing this to spread awareness as there will be a mass gathering. There are special thermal thermometres (with infra-red rays) kept in medical areas. Anyone having problems can have temperature checked and the report can be sent to Pune (laboratory),” said a HPCA official.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...for-players/story-R3Hn1kULFVrT7eMhec407M.html

 

[Titan24]

"How will we shine the ball? And then we’ll get thrashed and you will say we are not bowling well..."

Yes condition of the bowl is really important but not using saliva to shine, can it really be the difference between good bowling and thrashing?

Unless we are talking about some particular kind of gum or saliva that can produce some magic.

 

[The cricket enthusiast]

"How will we shine the ball? And then we’ll get thrashed and you will say we are not bowling well..."

Yes condition of the bowl is really important but not using saliva to shine, can it really be the difference between good bowling and thrashing?

Unless we are talking about some particular kind of gum or saliva that can produce some magic.

time to use sandpaper

 

[MenInG]

To be honest, I have found that practice pretty disgusting.

 

[Pakpak]

To be honest, I have found that practice pretty disgusting.

This. I always found it disgusting.

 

[aloo paratha]

Well if someone in the team has they`ll probably catch it well before they get onto the field.

 

[Caved12]

time to use sandpaper

Yes and do that with elite honesty

 

[Ryw]

Players avoided handshakes after the match during Karachi vs Lahore game and were fist punching, kicking with shoes with eachother

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Lol why? If a player has illness Coronavirus he won't be playing in the first place.

 

[Last Monetarist]

Lol why? If a player has illness Coronavirus he won't be playing in the first place.

Not necessarily, it can be asymptomatic in many cases.

 

[Danyaalr01]

Lol why? If a player has illness Coronavirus he won't be playing in the first place.

Symptoms can take 14 days to show, and it is contagious well before symptoms show.

 

[MenInG]

Cricket is the first game that should have been stopped and I also dont know how we can resume that unless we have total eradication of the virus.

 

[Ronaldo7]

Not necessarily, it can be asymptomatic in many cases.

Barely any cases and those who are asymptomatic are usually kids not adults.

 

[jeetu]

Perhaps umpires can use 2-3 drops of oil/saltwater etc on the ball at the start of the over.

 

[sweep_shot]

Never liked the concept of spitting on the ball. It is pretty disgusting and possibly unhygienic.

 

[Danyaalr01]

Never liked the concept of spitting on the ball. It is pretty disgusting and possibly unhygienic.

A lot of the time in teams they have a ball shiner, usually the best at ball shining, that was me in my team.

 

[MenInG]

A lot of the time in teams they have a ball shiner, usually the best at ball shining, that was me in my team.

But would you that in today's world?

 

[Danyaalr01]

But would you that in today's world?

Obviously not.

 

[MenInG]

Obviously not.

To be honest, thinking about it now - even in old times it was a disgusting thing to do.

 

[Danyaalr01]

To be honest, thinking about it now - even in old times it was a disgusting thing to do.

Yeah, even if no one else has used their saliva, you still are getting dirt in your mouth, plus a bit of sweat from the other bowlers.

 

[trickyone]

In our club cricket, we are using sweat to shine the ball

 

[MenInG]

Think a lot will change once this crisis goes away and standards of personal hygiene etc will become more stringent.

 

[Danyaalr01]

Think a lot will change once this crisis goes away and standards of personal hygiene etc will become more stringent.

It's bad enough that people are having to be forced to wash their hands, like what did they do before. It's disgusting seeing people walk out of bathrooms without washing hands in any situation. People that didn't wash hands before this crisis aren't going to start anytime soon.

There are also these dumb theories going around that washing hands and showing is bad for you and we should live the way of the cavemen, how dumb do people have to be to believe stuff like that.

 

[MenInG]

Ball maintenance is likely to be on the agenda of administrators and captains whenever cricket resumes, with pace great Jason Gillespie suggesting the use of saliva will have to be examined amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Cape Town cheating saga, in which Cameron Bancroft attempted to scuff the ball with sandpaper, prompted an International Cricket Council crackdown on ball-tampering.

The ICC instituted harsher penalties, wanting to clean up an element of the game that had prompted an ugly arms race between teams wanting to push the envelope and generate unplayable reverse-swing.

Shining the ball with sweat and saliva remains commonplace and entirely legal, provided mints aren't used to gain an illicit advantage.

The coronavirus, thought to be spread via respiratory droplets, could complicate matters.

Cricket Australia, having stood down the majority of its workers on 20 per cent pay, have far greater issues to worry about at the moment.

But whenever CA and other cricket boards edge closer to staging games it shapes as a likely conundrum.

"I don't think it's a quirky question. It's an actual genuine thing to be considered," Gillespie, who snared 259 Test wickets, told ABC Grandstand radio.

"I don't think anything is off the table. It could be a point where at the end of each over, the umpires allow the players to shine the ball in front of them but you can only do it then.

"I don't know. Is it just sweat? Can you only use sweat?

"I don't have an answer to that but it certainly will be a conversation that will be had. If you think about it, it is pretty gross."

Australia spearhead Pat Cummins revealed the topic was discussed prior to last month's trans-Tasman ODI at the SCG.

That game, Australia's final hit-out before the health crisis brought a halt to all international cricket, was played behind closed doors.

"It's a tough one," Cummins said earlier this month.

"If it's at that stage where we're that worried about spread ... I'm not sure we'd be playing sport and bringing ourselves out of isolation.

"The one-dayer, we made it clear we're obviously really keen to play, but ... the way we shined the ball didn't change.

"Obviously different with red ball. As a bowler I think it would be pretty tough going if we couldn't shine the ball in a Test."

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sp...o-be-looked-at-gillespie-20200419-p54l6l.html

 

[MenInG]

NEW DELHI: Bowlers using saliva to shine the ball is a common sight in cricket but in a post COVID-19 world, they might have to reconsider the practice, making their lives tougher in what, many believe, has already become a batsman's game.
In the wake of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, the scrutiny on ball maintenance has only increased but using sweat and saliva on it remains legal.

Given the worsening COVID-19 situation, it is unlikely that cricket will resume anytime soon and when it finally does, former players, including Venkatesh Prasad, Praveen Kumar and Jason Gillespie, feel the game's custodians might have to suspend the use of saliva.

"When the action resumes, they should use only sweat for some time as safety of the players is paramount," former pacer Prasad, who played 33 Tests and 161 ODIs for India, told PTI.

He reckons it will be tough for the bowlers to stop using saliva to work up the ball but it is the need of the hour.

"When you are in the thick of things, you tend to forget it. You have to get the upper hand over the batsmen as you can't use anything else besides sweat and saliva.

"The question is what do you do when the batsman is pulping you? You need to swing the ball and what helps swing the ball is the aerodynamics," the 50-year-old explained.

In fact, it had become a big talking point in the Indian dressing room last month when they were to take on South Africa in a three-match ODI series last month.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar had hinted at limiting the use of saliva but the bowlers were not really tested on that front as the series was called off due to the rising threat from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Without saliva, sweat remains the only other legal source to shine the ball but that can be tricky, according to Prasad.

"Because not everybody sweats. In that case, you have to keep throwing the ball to someone who sweats. I am someone who doesn't sweat that much whereas Rahul Dravid does," he recalled.

Praveen Kumar, known for his prodigious swing, said putting the right amount of saliva on the ball aided his art immensely.

"For the first few months after action resumes, they will have to ban the use of saliva. As bowlers, we will have to look for some other source," he said with a laugh.

"...it is very important for the fast bowlers, also for the spinners, as it helps them generate drift. For an off-spinner, the shiny side on the left will drift the ball away in the air before coming back. It tests the batsman," he reasoned.

"For me, saliva was of great help while opening the bowling as well as reversing the old ball," said Kumar, who took a five-wicket haul at Lord's in 2011.

The world will never be the same even when it is able to overcome the current crisis. In such a scenario, the way the game is played is also likely to change.

Former Australia pacer Gillespie said time has come to reconsider the use of saliva in the game.

"I don't think it's a quirky question. It's an actual genuine thing to be considered," Gillespie, who took 259 Test wickets, told 'ABC Grandstand'.

"I don't think anything is off the table. It could be a point where at the end of each over, the umpires allow the players to shine the ball in front of them but you can only do it then. I don't know. Is it just sweat? Can you only use sweat?

"I don't have an answer to that but it certainly will be a conversation that will be had. If you think about it, it is pretty gross," said the cricketer-turned-coach.

Prasad, however, reminded that bowling is not just about using sweat and saliva, conditions also matter immensely.

"It doesn't matter if you use saliva or not as long as you apply appropriate amount of sweat and shine it off. If the other side tends to get rough (due to dryness), automatically you get reverse swing.

"When I got 6/33 against Pakistan in Chennai (1999), the reverse (swing) happened because of the condition of the ball, pitch and the weather. So, it is not just about saliva. A lot of other factors also come into play," he said.

He reiterated that the use of saliva should be stopped even though it would be difficult for the bowlers to let go of a practice they are so used to.

"For everyone's safety, it should be suspended but if you are getting smashed, you will sub-consciously try to do your best to swing the ball and that might include (using) saliva.

"If you are not able to swing the ball like you used to, you risk getting dropped. How do you address that?" Prasad asked.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...st-covid-19-scenario/articleshow/75247415.cms

 

[MenInG]

Shoaib Akhtar


"You should not put saliva on the cricket ball - I raised this point about 10-11 years ago, in a meeting that we share a ball after applying saliva to it which can go to the fielders and bowlers; If someone has a disesase it can be passed on like that"

"Everybody laughed and said Shoaib Akhtar was saying useless things and who would want to listen to him - and they pushed away my ideas"

"Today I have heard on the news that ICC have said that bowlers can no longer put saliva on the cricket ball"

"So what are we going to allow the bowlers to use to shine the ball now?"

"There could be glycerine in the pockers of fielders so that without use of saliva they could shine the ball"

"But will you be able to use sweat? but then we are touching our face etc so how far can we take this?"

"Should we start bowling wearing gloves?"

"The fact is Cricket is a game where there will always be contact with the ball with sweat and saliva, so how will the ICC tackle this?"

"Maybe a subtsance which is approved and manufactured by the ICC will be used on the ball - maybe such a law could be passed by the ICC"

"How can we arrange sports events until it is confirmed how many people have Covid-19"

"I dont see the world functioning properly for a year so how will cricket be played then"

"I would like to appeal to the PCB and to my friends also, is that there are former cricketers who are in desperate need for help, and it would be good if they had a source of pension or some people would come forward to help first-class cricketers and ancilliary staff"

 

[BoomBoomCricket]

Officials have flagged up concerns about holding personal items due to Covid-19

Bowlers will be asked to throw clothing and other items over the boundary rope

Umpires will not be instructed to wear gloves — medical or otherwise

Umpires will be allowed to refuse to take bowlers' caps and sweaters when the new season eventually gets under way.

Officials have flagged up concerns about holding on to personal items during recent discussions with the ECB's umpires' manager, Chris Kelly.

As a result, if cricket returns while Covid-19 is still a threat, bowlers will be asked to throw clothing and other things such as sunglasses beyond the boundary rope.

Umpires will be allowed to refuse to take bowlers’ caps and sweaters when cricket returns

However, umpires will not be instructed to wear gloves — medical or otherwise — to reduce the chances of contracting coronavirus by handling the ball.

Officials are required to check the state of the ball in Twenty20 matches every time a six is struck, and when the ball is feared to have gone out of shape in first-class cricket, meaning they regularly come into contact with it. Balls thrown back by spectators would potentially increase the risk.

But it will remain the umpire's choice as to whether they want to cover their hands, in line with ECB policy on protective gear such as arm guards, helmets and shin pads for their officials.

The ECB only made the wearing of helmets mandatory for batters and close fielders in 2016 after a British standard was introduced and Sportsmail understands a similar process would need to take place before another firm directive on other specialist equipment is made.

Meanwhile, it will be the responsibility of individual boards rather than the MCC, the sport's lawmakers, to decide whether the use of saliva to shine the ball is increasing the potential for contamination and adjust their playing regulations accordingly.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/c...se-bowlers-caps-sweaters-cricket-returns.html

 

[MenInG]

MUMBAI (Reuters) - From shining the ball to celebrating a dismissal - certain things may never be the same again when cricket restarts after the novel coronavirus pandemic, Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar told Reuters.

Cricketers use the age-old method of shining one side of the cricket ball with a combination of saliva and sweat, ostensibly to help bowlers generate more swing in the air.

But with increased focus on social distancing and personal hygiene to contain the spread of the virus, the sport stares at a changing landscape.

“Shining the ball will change I think,” Tendulkar, who will turn 47 on Friday, told Reuters in a telephone interview. “Everyone will be conscious of maintaining social distancing, giving high-fives to each other and hugging after celebrating the fall of a wicket.

“I don’t think those things are going to happen. It may happen instinctively but consciously players would want to make sure that they follow certain norms. During this period personal hygiene has been at the forefront.”

Cricket like all other sport has come to a grinding halt as countries closed borders and enforced lockdowns to fight the virus that has infected more than 2.66 million people globally and killed more than 186,000.

Australia, South Africa and England have been among many who have been forced to postpone cricket tours to other countries while the cash-rich Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament has been indefinitely suspended.

With several bilateral series being wiped out, the new World Test Championship (WTC) is in doubt with its final between the top two sides scheduled in June next year at Lord’s.

The nine top-ranked sides are scheduled play three series each at home and away to determine the finalists and Tendulkar feels everyone should get a fair chance.

“I would like to believe that some tours are getting postponed rather than being called off,” said Tendulkar, who will not be celebrating his birthday as a mark of respect for frontline workers involved in the health crisis.

“The whole world has come to a standstill, it applies to all cricket playing nations. The whole calendar can be moved forward a little bit without altering too many things.

“I know the timings of the cricket season are different in different continents and that needs a closer look at.”

Australia is scheduled to host the Twenty20 World Cup starting from October but Tendulkar feels it will be impossible to predict the fate of the tournament at this stage.

“It’s not just about Australia, it’s also about making sure that the rest of the teams are also feeling safe enough to travel there,” he said.

MENTAL HEALTH

Tendulkar, the only cricketer to score 100 centuries across all formats, amassed 34,000-plus international runs in his glittering career and remains the most prolific scorer in both test and one-day internationals.

Number of players have recently opened up on mental health issues and Tendulkar, who carried the burden of expectation of a cricket-mad nation for 24 years before retiring in 2013, advises striking the right balance.

“I had a team around me all the time who would absorb most of the pressure so that I could be focussed only on the game and nothing else. That helped me,” he said, adding he still missed the camaraderie of the dressing room.

“Every individual has to go through ups and downs. If one is going to get carried away with success and celebrate till the cows come home, that’s not going to work. There has to be a balance between celebration and disappointment.

“The moment you start finding balance, the pressure automatically reduces. There’s multiple things happening around players and with social medial everything gets amplified so keeping that balance is crucial.”

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-h...-to-change-post-virus-tendulkar-idUKKCN2252H2

 

[MenInG]

Responding to speculations that cricket is considering legalising ‘ball tampering’, so as to do away with bowlers shining the ball with their sweat or saliva, former India cricketer Ashish Nehra said artificial things like vaseline cannot give bowlers the desired effect and spitting on the ball is necessary for conventional swing.

“Get one thing clear at the onset. The ball will not swing if you don’t apply sweat or saliva on the ball. That’s basic necessity of swing bowling. The moment ball gets scuffed up from one side, sweat and saliva must be applied on the other side,” Nehra, who completely shot down the idea of using external substances, told PTI.

According to reports, the ICC is contemplating legalising ball tampering after play resumes after the coronavirus-induced stoppage by using artificial substances to prevent virus spread.

Nehra said why vaseline or other artificial substances like bottle caps or sandpapers alone can’t help a pacer.

“Now let’s understand why do you need saliva? Sweat is heavier than saliva but both are heavy enough to make one side of the ball heavier for reverse swing. Vaseline comes into the picture only after sweat and saliva, not before that.

“It is lighter and doesn’t even ensure conventional swing. It can keep the shine but doesn’t make the ball heavy,” the World Cup-winning former pacer said.

Whether it was advisable for bowlers to use their saliva to shine the ball had become a talking point in the Indian dressing room last month when they were to take on South Africa in a three-match ODI series. Bhuvneshwar Kumar had hinted at limiting the use of saliva but the bowlers were not really tested on that front as the series was called off due to the rising threat from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sachin Tendulkar had earlier said that not using saliva or sweat to shine the ball may be one of the many basic changes cricket could see after resumption. “Shining the ball will change I think,” Tendulkar, who will turn 47 on Friday, told Reuters. “Everyone will be conscious of maintaining social distancing, giving high-fives to each other and hugging after celebrating the fall of a wicket.

https://indianexpress.com/article/s...paper-ashish-nehra-saliva-must-swing-6379086/

 

[Bhaijaan]

Gentlemen never spit on the ball. It is a tradition which was brought to the game by some teams and sadly everyone's started following it.

 

[OhTwadi]

I have a question which is this: if someone have covid 19, wouldn't they pass it on anyway regardless of saliva being used or not?

 

[BoomBoomCricket]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I have to be honest I have an issue with legalising ball tampering albeit in front of the umpire.....to many grey areas!<br>What about getting a new ball at say over 55?</p>— Mickey Arthur (@Mickeyarthurcr1) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mickeyarthurcr1/status/1254629004260151296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 27, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

Substitutions for players infected by COVID-19 and legalising the use of artificial substances to shine the ball are reportedly among measures being considered by the International Cricket Council as the game looks towards a resumption of play.

While Cricket Australia negotiates the possibility of exemptions for international teams to tour with the government, attention is also focused on the on-field effects of the coronavirus.

One of the main conundrums facing administrators is how to allow fielding teams to maintain the ball, with the traditional use of spit and saliva under the microscope due the increased risk of transmitting the disease.

A chorus of former fast bowlers, including Australians Jason Gillespie and Shaun Tait and New Zealand great Richard Hadlee, have all suggested the use of saliva to shine the ball could be a thing of the past once cricket resumes.

But Australia opener David Warner believes a ban on using saliva would be unnecessary, arguing that being in close confines to fellow players would be just as much of a risk factor.

"You're sharing changerooms and you're sharing everything else, I don't see why you have to change that," Warner told cricket.com.au.

"It's been going around for hundreds of years now, I can't recall anyone that's got sick by doing that.

"If you're going to contract a bug, I don't think it'd necessarily be just from that.

"I'm not too sure but it's not my place to comment on whether or not we should or shouldn't (use saliva to shine the ball). It's up to the ICC and the governing bodies to decide."

Warner’s comments come after an ESPN report that said authorities are considering the possibility of allowing artificial substances to be used to maintain the ball instead of saliva and sweat.

Gillespie recently labelled the traditional ball-shining practice "pretty gross" and suggested umpires could be asked to police the shining of the ball, while Tait also expects the practice to be scrapped once games resume.

"I've never been a huge fan of the saliva on the ball, it's not very nice really," Tait said. "We have to open to some possible changes there."

Hadlee, meanwhile, called for an "enlarged seam to give the bowlers more assistance".

The issue is less of an issue in limited-overs cricket, but Australia quick Josh Hazlewood says "Test cricket would be very hard" if the ball could no longer be shined.

"Bowlers rely on any sort of sideways movement in the air. If you didn’t maintain the ball at all for 80 overs it would be quite easy to bat after that initial shine has gone," he said.

“Whether you use saliva or sweat, maybe one person can do it. I’m not sure. It’s something that will have to be talked about when we get back out there and hopefully come up with a solution."

Another idea to emerge is to allow players to be isolated and substituted out of a Test match if issues arise mid-game, much like how concussion substitutes were introduced to the game last year.

An ICC spokesperson said: "This is something that is expected to be discussed by the cricket and medical committees as part of the move of trying to get cricket back on."

Meanwhile, Australia's plans to secure exemptions for international teams to visit this summer has gained traction.

Fifteen international teams are due to arrive for the T20 World Cup in October, before the highly-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Test series against India.

A spokesperson from the Prime Minister's office said this week: "The Prime Minister and the government have always had a strong relationship with Cricket Australia given the partnership on the annual PM's XI fixture.

"The government will continue to engage with Cricket Australia on its plans to recommence play at both a professional and community level, including any requests for exemptions to be applied by the Australian Border Force."

It has been reported international teams may be required to isolate for 14 days either side of their journey to Australia, while the potential for the creation of a 'biosecure' hub - possibly at the Adelaide Oval's soon-to-be-completed 128 bed hotel built into the eastern grandstand - has been discussed.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/cor...-covid-19-david-warner-spit-saliva/2020-04-29

 

[MenInG]

Melbourne, May 2 (IANS) In Australia, the use of saliva or sweat to shine the ball will be restricted once cricket training returns in the post coronavirus world. The federal government in Australia has released a framework regarding the staged return of sports amid the pandemic under the title "The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Framework for rebooting sport in a COVID-19 environment" available on the official government website.

AIS, in consultation with medical experts, sporting bodies and federal and state governments, has come up with guidelines wherein they have restricted the use of saliva and sweat to shine the ball.

The framework, which outlines a staged return to play, has three stages -- Level A, Level B and Level C. Currently, sports is outlined as being at "Level A", which restricts all training except that of the individual kind. "Running/aerobic training (solo), resistance training (solo), skills training (solo)."

However, in probably a week''s time, it will move to "Level B" which will allow the following: "Nets -- batters facing bowlers. Limit bowlers per net. Fielding sessions -- unrestricted. No warm up drills involving unnecessary person-person contact. No shining cricket ball with sweat/saliva during training."

The third and final "Level C", to be permitted later in the year, is outlined as: "Full training and competition. No ball shining with sweat/saliva in training."

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia also welcomed Prime Minister Scott Morrison''s announcement regarding national principles for the recommencement of community and professional sport, as agreed by the national cabinet.

"As and when restrictions are lifted, CA will seek advice from medical experts including our own Chief Medical Officer, John Orchard, and relevant government agencies to support the cricket community with protocols and guidelines that allow community cricket to recommence as early and as safely as possible," CA said in a statement.

"Cricket Australia will continue to work with government to prepare a comprehensive biosecurity plan to ensure we are as prepared as possible to deliver elite cricket content on Australian soil, including an exciting summer of cricket highlighted by the ICC T20 World Cup 2020 and the Border-Gavaskar Test series between Australia and India," it added.

In the framework, there are also guidelines for training and management of illness in elite sports.

"Individuals should not return to sport if in the last 14 days they have been unwell or had contact with a known or suspected case of COVID-19.

"Athletes returning to sport after COVID-19 infection require special consideration prior to resumption of high intensity physical activity.

"Resumption of sporting activity may not be linear. Increasing restrictions may be required in response to fluctuating numbers of COVID-19 cases."

The government has said that the AIS framework is a "timely tool" for ''how'' reintroduction of sport activity will occur in a cautious and methodical manner, to optimise athlete and community safety.

https://www.outlookindia.com/newssc...with-govt-to-prepare-biosecurity-plan/1821398

 

[MenInG]

Australian manufacturer Kookaburra has developed a wax applicator that would allow cricket balls to be shined without using sweat or saliva and believes it could be ready to use within a month.

The time-honoured methods of polishing - which are crucial to the art of swing bowling - appear to be incompatible with health advice regarding transmission of Covid-19 and there is a possibility the use of bodily fluids could be temporarily banned when top-level cricket finally returns.

The laws of cricket explicitly state that fielders must not use "artificial substances" to alter the condition of the ball but the idea that umpires would oversee the process, or even use the sponge applicator on behalf of the bowling team, provides a possible solution.

Inspired by existing products used in the footwear industry, Kookaburra has been busy working on a compound that would help bowlers avoid becoming disadvantaged in a post-coronavirus context.

Brett Elliott, group managing director of the brand, told the PA news agency: "The most effective mitigating action to avoid risk would be to introduce a temporary ban on the traditional shining method. This could be immediately introduced, enabling cricket to resume as soon as it is safe.

"Kookaburra's research and development centre in Australia has been working on a product to replace the traditional methods of polishing a ball that could be controlled and managed by the match umpire. We have developed a unique wax formula for polishing a cricket ball.

"The pocket size sponge applicator would enable umpires or players to apply a thin layer of wax which could then be rubbed and polished in a traditional manner to enhance the shine on the ball.

"This could be available within a month, however has it yet to be tested in a match conditions as the ability to complete real trial matches at the moment is inhibited.

"It may not be something we need to make forever, it's designed to get cricket back and give administrators time to make decisions. Nobody was calling out for this 12 months ago so maybe it is more of an interim measure."

Chief among the company's thinking has been a desire to preserve the existing balance between the game's various disciplines.

"It's important that a change to the method of ball polishing does not provide favour to one bowling discipline over another; the beauty of cricket is that it encourages teams to use a range of bowling skills and it would be a shame to lose any of them," said Elliott.

"The ultimate objective and challenge faced by manufacturers and administrators is to ensure the balance between bat and ball is preserved."

Elliott also referred to an idea longer in gestation, a ball made from entirely artificial materials. In the past that has primarily attracted interest from animal rights group and vegan activists but has now entered the current pandemic conversation.

"Kookaburra has been working for several years on the development of a synthetic ball to avoid the use of leather. This ball would not require traditional polishing," he added.

The England and Wales Cricket Board use Dukes as supplier of their red Test balls, as do Ireland and the West Indies, India use SG and the rest of the full member nations opt for Kookburra, which makes all white balls for limited-overs cricket.

Elliott confirmed the new product would be available for use by any international boards on either red or white balls.

As guardians of the laws, MCC will surely take a keen interest in developments, while the International Cricket Council have a number of steps it could take before signing off.

A report from its medical committee advising against the use of sweat and saliva would be first, followed by consideration by the cricket committee and finally a go ahead from international chief executives. PA

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport...kaburra-balls-shine-polish-spit-a9497826.html

 

[BoomBoomCricket]

Shane Warne has suggested using weighted cricket balls to help ensure bowlers can generate swing when the game resumes post-coronavirus.

Sweat and saliva are generally used to keep one side of the ball shiny but bodily fluids could yet be temporarily outlawed on health grounds once the game restarts after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Australian cricket-ball manufacturer Kookaburra are developing a device - which could be available within the month - that would allow a thin layer of wax to be added to the ball.

But Warne has suggested an alternative, one he feels will help bowlers on flat tracks and eradicate any future danger of ball-tampering.

https://www.skysports.com/cricket/n...-balls-to-help-swing-bowling-post-coronavirus

 

[Abdullah719]

Added poll.

 

[BoomBoomCricket]

Former India opener Gautam Gambhir reckons that cricketers will have to learn to live with the coronavirus and that they will have to observe social distancing.

However, he doesn't think that cricket will ring in changes in rules apart from probably finding an alternative to saliva to shine ball.

"I don't think a lot of rules and regulations will be changed, you can probably have an alternate for the usage of saliva apart from that I don't think so many changes will happen," Gambhir said on Star Sports' Cricket Connected.

All major cricket events across the world have been suspended with no definite timeline set for resumption.

However, Gambhir says then once the action resumes, unless a vaccine has been found, everyone will have to adjust to the new environment triggered by the deadly virus.

"Players and everyone else need to live with this virus; probably they have to get used to it that there is a virus and that it will be around. Players might end up catching it, and you got to live with it," said Gambhir who scored over 10,000 runs during his international career.

He does feel that while cricket may find it easier to observe the social distancing measures but in other contact sports it will be a big challenge. "Social distancing and other rules may not be easy for any sport to maintain. You can still manage to do it with cricket, but how will you do it in football, hockey and other sports as well. So, I think you just have to live with it, probably the sooner you accept it, the better it is," he said.

https://www.cricketcountry.com/news...28911/amp/?p=928911&__twitter_impression=true

 

[MenInG]

Australia speedster Pat Cummins isn’t worried about the prospect of banning the practice of applying saliva as long as there are other options available to shine the cricket ball.

There’s an ongoing raging debate on whether International Cricket Council (ICC) should legalise ball-tampering so that the bowlers can continue to generate swing in the eventuality that saliva is banned in the backdrop of coronavirus pandemic.

“Things will change in all sports, I agree. But I think there has to be some other option. Saliva or any another substance, as long as we are able to shine the ball, I am okay,” Cummins told Kolkata Knight Riders during an online chat from Australia.

He added, “As a fast bowler, you gotta be able to shine the ball. The reason why everyone loves Test cricket is because it has so much art to it. You have swing bowlers, spinners, you have all these different aspects that make Test cricket what it is.”

With the game heavily titled in the favour of batsmen, Cummins is in no mood to give more leeway. “I think if you can’t shine the ball, it takes away swing bowling, reverse swing bowling…so much really. Honestly, I wouldn’t want to give batsmen any reason to score more runs,” the 27-year-old said.

KKR picked Cummins for a record-breaking Rs 15.5 crore during December auction last year and thus made him the costliest overseas player in IPL history.

He thanked KKR coach Brendon McCullum among others for showing faith in him. “I owe Baz (McCullum) and the rest of the staff who picked me a few dinners at least. Someone like Baz, I have played against him, is a great cricketer and an international captain,” he said.

“To get that kind of reassurance that ‘you’ve got something that I really want in the team’ is great for me. I think a big contract brings big responsibilities, but more than anything, it brings a lot of excitement,” he added.

However, the ICC Test Cricketer of The Year says he won’t be bogged down by his hefty price-tag. “Once you are out there, you forget about the contract really quickly, and it’s mainly about being with the team and trying to win. I am really excited to be with the squad we put together for this season,” he said.

Cummins is staying put at his farmhouse during the coronavirus lockdown and is enjoying the down time away from what otherwise is a punishing schedule being a professional cricketer.

“Over here, I can still go for runs, and I have a basic weights setup. We have some cows here, who I have been feeding. I have also been doing some gardening jobs. So yeah, enjoying the fresh air quite a bit. There is absolutely no cricketer here on the farm. Hopefully it stays that way, it is my getaway spot from cricket. We are on the road so much usually, I come here to take those breaks,” he said

https://www.cricketcountry.com/news...o-shine-the-ball-i-am-okay-pat-cummins-928869

 

[MenInG]

NEW DELHI: According to reports, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is considering legalising the usage of artificial substances under the supervision of the umpires, instead of saliva and sweat to shine the ball. Australia has already banned the use of saliva and sweat on cricket balls.

Former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad is not in the favour of using any external substance on the leather. Prasad, who played 33 Tests and 161 ODIs for India and was one of the key bowlers in the side, feels the one alternative of saliva, when cricket resumes, can be sweat.

“Whether it's the International Cricket Council (ICC) or BCCI or other sports bodies, they need to find some sort of a framework. For example, I'm talking about IPL. Probably, what I would do is, if this has to go on, if the show has to go on, then I would probably ask the players to travel on chartered flights instead of on regular flights. So, that's one way of distancing oneself, having a social distance and maintaining the hygiene aspect as well. So, those are the things that one can work around,” Prasad told Timesofindia.com in an exclusive interview.

“And obviously completely taking saliva out of the equation. Nobody can use saliva of course. No matter how healthy, no matter how fit one is, I think for the time being saliva should be really removed. Yes, it is a major weapon for a fast bowler and especially a swing bowler and one thing for sure (is) that you cannot allow any external object or any external things to be used on the leather (ball). I'm completely against it. You cannot use anything. Probably the only thing that can be allowed or that would be possible is to apply is sweat," the 50-year-old veteran pacer said.

Bowlers use saliva to shine one side of the ball in an attempt to generate swing or movement in the air. Prasad said the ban of saliva will affect fast bowlers and medium pacers to a great extent. He also said the ban of saliva will snatch a weapon from a fast bowler’s armoury.

“It's 100 percent. It is going to totally take the most crucial part out of a bowler's skills. But then again, you've got to go by the environment, you've got to adapt. That's what the sportsmen are. They should know how to adapt. You should be able to adapt to different conditions, different environments. So, this is one such environment, which is very unfortunate. But then what's very important is the safety of people, safety of players, safety of the spectators. So, whenever cricket resumes, it will take some time for people to think about what has happened and how serious the situation is or was and adapt to those changes. Every single individual needs to adapt to changes. They need to change their lifestyle now. They've got to be extremely hygienic. They have to maintain social distancing and we have been talking about it. So, in that sense, we are fortunate that cricket is not a sport which has much contact. It's not like rugby or football. So, in that sense, when things settle down, I think cricket should start very soon. I don't know how long it's going to take, maybe two months, maybe four months, six months, I'm not very sure about it," Prasad said.

“It's also important for the board (BCCI) to think about. Yes, of course the health aspect that they have thought about, no doubt about it. But also, they need to look at the money coming into the coffers as well. It's not just the cricket or football federations or any sport for that matter or tennis federations, they all are losing money. So, whichever is a non-contact sport, I think that should be allowed,” he said.

Since there is no decision on the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 season and the upcoming T20 World Cup yet, the players around the world are eagerly waiting to hit the field. IPL was scheduled to start on March 29 but the tournament was first postponed to April 15 and then suspended till further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Will it be difficult for the players to get their mojo back once they hit the field after the lockdown is over? Prasad, who played 33 Tests and 161 ODIs for India advised players to spend as much time in the gym and work out rigorously as possible.

“You might not be physically involved in anything but there is something that you can always visualise - the mental side of the game. Keep playing those scenarios in your mind, visualise those scenarios. And if you're recording any of your matches or your performances - bowling or batting, whatever, try and watch those batting and bowling performances. And try to recreate those moments when you tackled the pressure and how you came up victorious. So, try and create those mentally. Visualising helps a lot in terms of getting your performances to another level,” the former India fast bowler said.

“I would say enjoy the break. Enjoy the lockdown. Enjoy as much as time with your family. Our cricketers spend so much time away from family. They travel most of the time and are busy in meeting the expectations of billions. I think this is a good time to take a break, (get over) injuries and niggles, if you have got. Spend as much time in the gym in your home and work out. You can do a lot of video calls and stuff like that with your trainers and physios. You don't have to really go and visit them so you can always do it on your own, using technology. And also, even if you don't have any gym set up, if you don't have any training equipment, just go up and down the house. If you're living in an apartment, climb the stairs. I will advise them to cover about 10 kilometers a day,” he said.

“You got to experiment and you've got to come up with some ideas. The thing is that you can't be practicing. You don't have the bowling or the batting opportunities to go and practice your skills, but then that is how it is. This is all I want to convey to the budding and professional cricketers,” the 50-year-old, who took 96 Test and 196 ODI wickets said.

Indian fans will always remember Prasad, who formed an attacking new ball bowling partnership, with Javagal Srinath, for the infamous 1996 World Cup incident, when he after being hit for a boundary and sledged by Pakistan’s Aamir Sohail, clean bowled the Pakistan batsman off the very next ball.

Prasad, who last played for India in 2001 also spoke about his life under lockdown.

“I am helping my wife. I'm working on a course which is affiliated to the University of London. It is called International sport management. That's exactly what I'm doing. It's a post-graduation certificate of international sports management. And at the moment, I'm doing sports strategy governance and leadership. That's one module. And the other one that I'm doing is international sport development. I'm positioning myself for certain things. Let's see how it goes,” Prasad signed off.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...tesh-prasad/articleshow/75674459.cms?from=mdr

 

[MenInG]

West Indies fast-bowling great Michael Holding has expressed doubts about the proposed use of artificial substance to shine the ball in the post-COVID-19 world.

Holding said it was natural for bowlers to apply saliva or sweat to the ball to make it shine and thereby gain swing.

“It is going to be difficult [for bowlers]. The natural inclination for any bowler, once he gets that ball in his hands is to apply saliva or apply sweat and then put it on the ball, that’s natural,” the legendary pacer said on the Sony Ten Pit Stop show.

Australian ball-manufacturer Kookaburra recently started developing a wax applicator as an alternative to saliva or sweat to shine the ball, but Holding said it could be a logistical nightmare. “Obviously over a period of time, you will learn and you will adjust. I’m hearing talks about producing some sort of polish that the umpires will take, will keep and you shine the ball in front of the umpire. I am not too sure on how that’s going to work, to be honest,” he said.

'Logistical nightmare'

“What sort of polish is that going to be, will it be something that stick on your fingers, will it be slippery, because if that is something that is slippery, you don’t want to be having slippery fingers, to grip the ball it is going to be more difficult, I am waiting to hear all the details. It is going to be a different world and as far as I am concerned it will be a logical nightmare to keep all those things in place,” he said.

Holding said he didn’t understand the fuss about using saliva when the idea was the resume cricket in a biosecure environment.

“At the moment when you are talking about playing in a biosecure environment ... no spectators, everyone has to be in two-week lockdown before they get into the venue. So that means everyone inside that venue should be free of COVID-19. Then I am not sure why you have to worry about saliva or perspiration ... if you are not confident about the two-week period proving enough that you are free of COVID-19, you should not be playing,” he said.

https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cric...ficial-substance-covid-19/article31572333.ece

 

[BoomBoomCricket]

There will be changes with attitudes towards health and hygiene after Covid and Cricket will be no exception.

 

[Abdullah719]

CRICKET COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PROHIBITION OF SALIVA TO SHINE THE BALL

The ICC Cricket Committee today recommended changes to ICC regulations to mitigate the risks posed by the COVID-19 virus, and protect the safety of players and match officials.

The Committee, chaired by Anil Kumble, concluded a conference call convened to specifically address issues related to COVID-19 including maintaining the condition of the match ball and the appointment of non-neutral umpires and referees to international cricket. The recommendations of the Cricket Committee will now be presented to the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee in early June for approval.

Match Ball

The ICC Cricket Committee heard from the Chair of the ICC Medical Advisory Committee Dr Peter Harcourt regarding the elevated risk of the transmission of the virus through saliva, and unanimously agreed to recommend that the use of saliva to polish the ball be prohibited.

The Committee also noted the medical advice that it is highly unlikely that the virus can be transmitted through sweat and saw no need to prohibit the use of sweat to polish the ball whilst recommending that enhanced hygiene measures are implemented on and around the playing field.

Non-Neutral Umpires and referees to international matches

The current regulations that apply to the appointment of match officials to men’s Test, ODI and T20I matches are summarised below. Since 2002, officials appointed by the ICC must not be from the same country as the participating teams.





Given the challenges of international travel with borders being closed, limited commercial flights and mandatory quarantine periods, the Committee recommended that local match officials be appointed in the short-term.

The appointments will continue to be made via the ICC from local Elite and International Panel referees and umpires. Where there are no Elite Panel match officials in the country, the best local International Panel match officials will be appointed.

The Committee also recommended that the use of technology is increased to support the appointments of a wider pool of umpires from around the world and has proposed an additional DRS review per team per innings is introduced in each format as an interim measure.

ICC Cricket Committee Chair Anil Kumble said: “We are living through extraordinary times and the recommendations the Committee have made today are interim measures to enable us to safely resume cricket in a way that preserves the essence of our game whilst protecting everyone involved.”

 

[KhanPredator]

Temporarily, yes it should be banned but once things get back to normal it should not be prohibited in my opinion. It has been apart of the game for many years, no need to change.

 

[Rana]

Rules are the same for both teams so nothing wrong with it

 

[BoomBoomCricket]

Michael Holding suggested it should be allowed because if you are creating a bio secure environment and asking players to isolate and testing them regularly there is no reasons why they should be transmitting an infection.

 

[BoomBoomCricket]

A key focus as and when cricket resumes. Bowlers will need to adapt accordingly.

 

[BoomBoomCricket]

MELBOURNE, May 20 (Reuters) - Cricket Australia (CA) is exploring the possibility of disinfecting the ball during matches to minimise the health risk to players during the COVID-19 pandemic, the head of its medical team said on Wednesday.

Player health is a major concern as the game seeks to return from the coronavirus shutdown and the International Cricket Council's cricket committee has recommended a ban on shining the ball with saliva.
"Disinfecting the ball is a consideration," CA Sports Science and Sports Medicine Manager Alex Kountouris said in a video-conference.

"We don't know the impact on the ball because we haven't tested it. We'd obviously have to test it, we'd have to speak to the ICC and get permission..."
"The ball being leather, it's harder to disinfect because it's got little nooks and crevices.
"So we don't know how effective it's going to be, we don't know how infected the ball is going to get and we don't know if it’s going to be allowed.

"But it's absolutely a consideration. Everything is on the table at the moment, everything is being considered."

Kountouris said the proposed ban on shining the ball with saliva would be difficult for players to get used to.

"Some people are used to licking their fingers before they grab the ball. People are used to shining the ball with their fingers ... there are going to be mistakes at some point," he added.

"I imagine we are going to take a commonsense approach and understand that people make mistakes and things are not going to be perfect." (Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Peter Rutherford)

https://www.eurosport.co.uk/cricket...-to-lower-health-risks_sto7753525/story.shtml

 

[MenInG]

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia quick Josh Hazlewood says the proposed ban on cricketers using saliva to shine the ball will be difficult to police but ultimately might not make much difference to the art of swing bowling.

The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) cricket committee has recommended the ban on the use of spit when the sport returns after the coronavirus shutdown because of fears it could lead to the spread of COVID-19.

Cricketers have long used saliva and sweat to shine one side of the ball, altering the aerodynamics in an attempt to generate movement in the air as it flies towards the batsman.

Sweat, which carries less risk of transmission, will still be allowed if the ban is enforced but Hazlewood thought it would be tough for umpires to end the practise of applying a bit of spit to the ball.

“I’d like saliva to be used obviously but if that’s what they’ve put forward, I guess everyone is playing the same game,” he told Sydney’s Daily Telegraph.

“Once it comes back to you as a bowler, it’s second nature to just give it a little touch up if you see something, and that’s going to be hard to stop to be honest. And it’s a tough thing to monitor for sure.”

Hazlewood, while admitting he had no medical training, questioned whether the measure was necessary at all given that players live in each other’s pockets during matches.

As to whether it would make much of a difference to the effectiveness of pace bowling, Hazlewood was uncertain.

“Sweat probably makes (the ball) a bit wetter if that makes sense. Makes it a bit heavier,” he added.

“I think you’ll use very small amounts because people have sweaty hands anyway and it gets on the ball ... I don’t think this will have as big an impact as what people think.”

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-h...olice-says-australias-hazlewood-idUKKBN22W043

 

[MenInG]

SYDNEY, May 20 (Reuters) - Australia quick Pat Cummins wants cricket’s lawmakers to approve the use of an artificial substance to shine the ball after a ban on the use of saliva was recommended in the wake of the COVID-19 health crisis.

The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) cricket committee has recommended the ban on the use of spit when the sport returns after the coronavirus shutdown because of fears it could lead to the spread of COVID-19.

Cricketers have long used saliva and sweat to shine one side of the ball, altering the aerodynamics in an attempt to generate movement in the air as it flies towards the batsman.

"If we remove saliva, we have to have another option," Cummins told the cricket.com.au website here

“Sweat’s not bad, but I think we need something more than that, ideally. Whatever that is, wax or I don’t know what.

“If that’s what that science is telling us, that it’s high risk using saliva ... as long as we’re keeping other options open, whether that’s sweat or something artificial.”

Earlier this month, Australian cricket-ball manufacturer Kookaburra said it had developed a wax applicator to enhance shine and aid swing.

Cummins’ team mate and fellow quick Josh Hazlewood said the proposed ban on saliva would be difficult to police.

“I’d like saliva to be used obviously but if that’s what they’ve put forward (a ban), I guess everyone is playing the same game,” he told Sydney’s Daily Telegraph.

“Once it comes back to you as a bowler, it’s second nature to just give it a little touch up if you see something, and that’s going to be hard to stop to be honest. And it’s a tough thing to monitor for sure.”

Cricket Australia (CA) is also considering disinfecting the ball during matches to minimise the health risk to players, the head of its medical team said on Wednesday. (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney and Amlan Chakraborty, editing by Peter Rutherford and Ken Ferris)

https://www.reuters.com/article/hea...ificial-substance-to-shine-ball-idUSL4N2D22OZ

 

[MenInG]

India's premier spinner Ravichandran Ashwin feels putting saliva on the ball is a habit and it will take some practice to get rid of it when cricket resumes in the post COVID-19 world. The ICC Cricket Committee recommended a ban on use of saliva in its meeting earlier this week. "I don't know (when is) the next time I go out there. It is natural for me to put saliva. It's going to take some practice (to not apply saliva). But I think, if we all have to co-exist, which is the DNA of human race, we will have to try and adapt to this," Ashwin said during an Instagram chat with Delhi Capitals.

Talking about his carrom ball, Ashwin said it roughly took him four years to develop it.

"It's more about trying these variations and the disappointments you get with it. Imagine try to play carrom with your middle finger and you're trying to push a cricket ball of that weight that cannot be compressed and you are trying to push it with velocity and trying it to spin.

"It's no mean achievement. Your finger, body need to understand it so on and so forth," said the man who has taken 365 wickets in 71 Tests.

"For me, when I was trying this carrom ball, I was expecting it to get it right everyday. But everyday despite bowling hundreds of deliveries, I will return home with disappointment of not being able to achieve what I had set out to achieve.

"That was a very very annoying state because you go through the practice and all with a dream in your head. But it does not pan out as quickly as you expected."

And then he tried reverse carrom. "I tried the reverse carrom, which I bowl at will now. I have been trying the googly. All these things tested my patience. But I feel when it tests your patience is when you need to be extra hard working, extra rudimentary and extra confident of your skills."

The social distancing norms in the post COVID-19 world will be a throwback to the 70's and 80s when there were no exaggerated celebrations.

"If you watch those classic games of 1970 or 80s, wicket celebration was people use to stand away from each other and keep clapping, you never really had high five's and wrist pumps. It developed much later in the game."

On a pragmatic note, Ashwin said that COVID-19 is nature's way of showing that human race needs to respect planet earth.

"I probably think, this is the whole way the elephant in the room - COVID19, is probably a lesson for humanity in the whole - of trying to tell us - hey you know what try and take a back step, you know you are stamping my feet all the time, you are spoiling nature, you are not listening to what is required, because humanity thrives - our race is thrived because of what planet is.

"It is unfair how much we have inflicted damage on it, so I think that is an extension what the game should be like. We should also understand that we need to appreciate all these things, maintain a certain sense of decorum and dignity, probably," he said.

https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2020/ra...-take-some-practice-to-get-rid-of-it-2232394?

 

[Abdullah719]

Balaji fears for bowlers with ban on use of saliva

Spoiler

Cricket has favoured batsmen since inception. And in the COVID-19 era, where natural body fluids, including saliva, will not be allowed to shine the ball with, the bowlers are likely to be marginalised even more.

Now there are calls for ‘ball-tampering’ to be legalised to restore a semblance of balance between the bat and the ball.

A feeling of deja vu is unavoidable considering the uproar Sandpapergate involving two of Australia’s biggest names, Steve Smith and David Warner, caused not too long ago.

Former India paceman and Chennai Super Kings bowling coach L. Balaji fears for the bowlers in these times.

Polished and shiny
Balaji said to The Hindu, “From a young age, bowlers are trained to use sweat and saliva on the ball to keep one side polished, shiny and lighter while the other side gradually becomes heavier.”

Balaji, among the heroes of India’s historic Test series triumph in Pakistan in 2004, elaborated, “In fact, the entire team ‘works’ on the ball to ‘maintain’ it. And the use of sweat and saliva is mandatory and legal.”

The lanky former paceman observed, “For the pacemen to achieve conventional and reverse swing, or seam movement, and even for the spinners to get the ball to drift, the weight of the ball and how one side is maintained is vital.”

He added, “Once the ball is looked after, factors such as crosswind, headwind, bowling with the breeze and the cloud cover play a part.”

Fascinating conversation
Balaji recalled a fascinating conversation with Pakistani legend Wasim Akram on the subject.

“Akram told me once the ball started doing something, the Pakistani pacemen would not even allow the fielders to touch a part of the ball with their palm.”

He elaborated, “Akram revealed the palm would be very sweaty and would make one side very heavy, disturbing the delicate balance needed for reverse swing.”

As it is
Balaji said, “You see, the ball only swings conventionally and reverses for a few overs and at that point, when the sphere reaches that state, you have to leave the ball as it is to inflict maximum damage during those phases.”

He added, “The heavy and sweaty palm would alter that delicate balance. It’s a science where the weight of the ball is crucial.”

What are the options before the cricketing world now? Balaji is against legalising ball tampering.

“When you start tampering, where would you draw the line? How can you say so much tampering is legal and after that it is illegal.”

He is unsure about ICC allowing external substances such as Vaseline to shine the ball. There have been cases when the ball has swung excessively with Vaseline.

Balaji said, “We have to go by trial and error method. Perhaps a substance such as a sanitiser with which you clean tables and other surfaces can be tried on the ball. But I am not sure.”

These are unprecedented times and the answers are complicated.

https://www.thehindu.com/sport/bala...with-ban-on-use-of-saliva/article31634664.ece

 

[FastBowlingAllrounder]

Maybe manufacturers and law makers should begin looking at the balls too. These Kookaburras, especially the white ones don't give bowlers as much assistance as they used to. Exaggerating the seam or something to get more movement might help compensate for lack of polishing?

 

[MenInG]

With an eye on the coronavirus pandemic, the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Cricket Committee has recommended banning the use of saliva to polish the match ball. While all former and current players believe that it important to ensure safety at this time, they also believe that it will be slightly difficult to keep off the natural habit of using spit to shine the ball.

Speaking on Star Sports’ show Cricket Connected, Brett Lee said: “When you have done something your whole life from 8,9, 10 years of age where you lick your fingers and you put on the ball, it’s very hard to change that overnight too. So, I think there’s going to be a couple of occasions, or there’s going to be some leniency I think from the ICC, where there may be warnings. It’s a great initiative, it’s going to be very hard to implement I think, because cricketers have done this for their whole life.”

The ICC in its statement said: “The ICC Cricket Committee heard from the Chair of the ICC Medical Advisory Committee Dr Peter Harcourt regarding the elevated risk of the transmission of the virus through saliva, and unanimously agreed to recommend that the use of saliva to polish the ball be prohibited.

“The committee also noted the medical advice that it is highly unlikely that the virus can be transmitted through sweat and saw no need to prohibit the use of sweat to polish the ball whilst recommending that enhanced hygiene measures are implemented on and around the playing field.”

Interestingly, Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood has also said that it is almost second nature to use saliva to keep shine on the ball to help it to swing. “I’d like saliva to be used obviously but if that’s what they’ve put forward, I guess everyone is playing the same game,” he told Sydney’s Daily Telegraph.

“Once it comes back to you as a bowler, it’s second nature to just give it a little touch up if you see something, and that’s going to be hard to stop to be honest. And it’s a tough thing to monitor for sure,” he added.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...mended-rule/story-jkciTrnzwJJSL4cSIQQtqO.html

 

[MenInG]

ICC cricket committee chairman Anil Kumble says the recommendation to ban saliva for shining the ball is only an interim measure and “things will go back to normal” once the COVID-19 pandemic is brought under control.

The Kumble-led panel recommended a ban on saliva to minimise the risk of infection. On Friday, the ICC, in its guidelines for resumption of the game, also suggested a bar on the practice.

”This is only an interim measure and as long as we have hopefully control over COVID in a few months or a year’s time then I think things will go back to as normal as it can be,” Kumble told Star Sports show ‘Cricket Connected.’

The ban on saliva has elicited a mixed response from the bowlers, who said it would definitely come in the way of generating swing. But most have also acknowledged the health risk that it might pose.

There have also been discussions on whether the ICC would allow usage of external substances like wax to shine the ball. Kumble said there were discussions on the usage of external substances.

”If you look back at the history of the game, I mean we have been very critical and we have been very focused on eliminating any external substances coming into the game,” Kumble said of the speculation.

“Whether you are literally legalising, if you are looking to do that now which obviously has had a great impact over the last couple of years,” he added.

He cited the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, which led to bans on Australian cricketers Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.

“ICC took a decision but then cricket Australia took, even a more tougher stance on what happened during that series between South Africa and Australia, so we did consider that,” he said.

https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cric...-shining-bowlers-covid-19/article31663288.ece

 

[BoomBoomCricket]

Cricket "Will Become Even More Batsmen Friendly" With Saliva Ban, Says Irfan Pathan

Irfan Pathan reckons that the ban on using saliva for shining the ball is a significant blow to bowlers and authorities should ensure the preparation of bowling-friendly Test wickets to prevent complete domination of the game by the batsmen.

Irfan Pathan was one of the best exponents of swing bowling in Indian cricket.

1. Irfan Pathan called saliva ban a significant blow to bowlers
2. He asked authorities to ensure preparation of bowling-friendly wickets
3. ICC cricket committee has recommended a ban on use of saliva

Former India pacer Irfan Pathan reckons that the ban on using saliva for shining the ball is a significant blow to bowlers and authorities should ensure the preparation of bowling-friendly Test wickets to prevent complete domination of the game by the batsmen. The ICC cricket committee, led by former India captain Anil Kumble, has recommended a ban on use of saliva as an interim measure to combat the coronavirus threat. Pathan feels the ban could even stretch up to two years and will give undue advantage to batsmen.

"You will to have make sure that pithes are more suitable to the bowlers than batsmen to negate the advantage (of not being able use saliva). If you are not able to shine the ball properly, you will not be able to cut the air because of scientific reasons.

"And if you are not able to swing it, the batsman will have it easy because nobody fears just pace, it is the combination of pace and swing that troubles them," Pathan, one of the best exponents of swing bowling in Indian cricket, told PTI on Sunday.

"It (ban) will affect bowlers a lot in Test matches. It won't be an issue in white-ball cricket as the bowlers anyway don't shine the ball after the first few overs, they want to make it soft (to make strokeplay tougher for the batsman).

"But in red-ball cricket, whether you are a fast bowler or spinner, you need to shine the ball. Spinner relies on shine to drift the ball. That will be a big advantage for batsman. The game will become even more batsmen friendly," said the first Indian pacer to take a Test hat-trick.

More than grass on the pitch, Pathan would prefer moisture beneath it.

"If you look at England and Australia, there is not much grass but there is moisture and it helps bowlers.

"You need to make sure that something happens for the bowler. If not through the ball, then through the conditions. If the conditions are helpful for bowlers they don't look for reverse swing, they go for conventional swing," said the 35-year-old.

Pathan said reverse swing only works with extreme pace, which according to him is rare in modern-day cricket.

"For reverse swing, if you can't hide the ball, then the batsman knows which way the ball would come unless you are bowling 150 kmph plus and there are very few bowlers currently who generate that kind of pace.

"You can still apply some sweat and swing the ball normally but the ban would more or less take reverse swing out of the the game," Pathan added.

https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/cri...dly-with-saliva-ban-says-irfan-pathan-2234415

 

[BoomBoomCricket]

England captain Joe Root feels the ban on using saliva to shine the ball to combat the COVID-19 threat might improve the skills of the bowlers, who will have to work harder to get something out of the pitch. Root said it could ‘work in our favour and up-skill levels’. The Anil Kumble-led ICC cricket committee has recommended banning the use of saliva to shine the ball when play resumes. The ICC has also barred the practice in its guidelines for the resumption of cricket.

“Not having the assistance that you might normally have meant your accuracy has to improve,” he was quoted as saying by metro.co.uk.

“Guys will have to find another way to get something out of the surface, whether that’s a bit more effort, changing angles on the crease, using the wobble seam they might not have in their locker.

“It could develop our bowlers in a four or five-week period.”

The issue has led to divided opinions among past and present cricketers across the globe.

While Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins has urged the game’s custodians to come out with an alternate option to strike a balance between bat and ball, former West Indies pacer Michael Holding has cast doubts on the use of the artificial substance.

Spin legend Shane Warne has suggested that one side of the ball be made heavier to ensure that it doesn’t need any shining.

 

[MenInG]

Former India pacer Zaheer Khan felt the ban on the usage of saliva by bowlers, recommended by the ICC Cricket Committee, will massively tilt the scales in favour of batsmen.

Speaking in a webinar moderated by former Indian Premier League COO Sundar Raman on Sunday, Zaheer said, "It is going to be very hard for bowlers to swing the ball. If you are going to disinfect the ball every time, at least they should keep a solution with the umpires, which the bowlers can use officially and get some sort of practice going. Otherwise, it is heavily in favour of the batsmen."

The coronavirus pandemic has brought forth challenging times and Zaheer believes that "mental adjustment" will play a huge role now. "An active sportsperson will find it very tough during this time. It is definitely going to be very challenging... the adjusting. I think the real focus for every athlete during this time would be to do the adjustment mentally. It is going to play a huge role."

When asked what can a sportsperson do to keep oneself going during this phase, Zaheer, who is the Director of Cricket Operations at Mumbai Indians, compared the prevalent situation to a rain-delayed Test match.

He said, "In all our careers we had these rain-affected Test games and it went on for five days. The situation right now is similar. Only maybe the situation would extend for a year right now... you never know. The situation has affected our routines, our times and like in rain-affected games we have a different mindset now.

"There the umpires go out and inspect the field and here you have government officials who we are depending upon to chart out a course. As a sportsperson, you cannot really switch off and have to adapt to a new plan. Yes, there was a certain rhythm going but you have to build your strategy around the new plan. That is going to be the key."

He added, "It will be about how you can find comfort in the new normal. We can only control the controllables. Once you accept those challenges, things will be a bit smoother. Initially, there will be a bit of struggle because no one knows what's coming their way. No one knows the difficulties you will face in adapting to these challenges. It will be a trial-and-error which will get better with time."

With a cloud of uncertainty over major tournaments like the T20 World Cup and IPL and the postponement of events like the Olympics, the 41-year-old Zaheer said, "When it comes to major tournaments like the Olympics, which comes once in four years and the World Cup which has a similar case, as an athlete, you always peak during the time. So now you have to readjust and be in pristine shape physically and mentally whenever the time comes.

"Your whole routine and practice should be building towards that. But, now you may not know when the tournaments will happen. So, that is something you will have to be flexible with. You have to go back to the drawing board and find new goals."

Zaheer, who has 282 ODI scalps from 200 ODIs, said the manner in which he bounced back in the 2011 World Cup final was his favourite cricketing memory. "In 2003 (World Cup), I was close to making an impact but that didn't happen. It was a young Zak running in, losing his way, letting his emotions get to him and not really doing what was needed to be done. How many do get the opportunity to get over this nightmare? In 2011, I got the opportunity. I bowled three maidens and then took two wickets. That set the tone for the match."

https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cric...risis-indian-cricket-news/article31665314.ece

 

[MenInG]

Australian paceman Mitchell Starc warned Tuesday that cricket risks becoming “pretty boring” if ball-tampering rules are not relaxed in response to a coronavirus-linked ban on using saliva to shine the ball.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to implement the ban in June after receiving medical advice that spit poses a COVID-19 transmission risk.

Bowlers traditionally get the ball to move in the air, deceiving the batsman, by shining one side using sweat or saliva.

Starc said swinging the ball in such a manner was a crucial part of the contest between bowler and batsman.

“We don't want to lose that or make it less even, so there needs to be something in place to keep that ball swinging,” he told reporters in an online press conference.

“Otherwise people aren't going to be watching it and kids aren't going to want to be bowlers.

“In Australia in the last couple of years we've had some pretty flat wickets, and if that ball's going straight it's a pretty boring contest.”

Anil Kumble, chairman of the ICC cricket committee, said this week that the saliva ban was only intended to be a temporary measure during the coronavirus crisis.

The former Indian Test spinner suggested cricket regulators did not want to open the door to using foreign substances to alter the condition of the ball.

Starc said he understood such reluctance, given the clear rules that exist against ball tampering.

But he said if bowlers were disadvantaged by a saliva ban, they should be given more leeway elsewhere.

The 30-year-old said ground staff could be ordered not to produce batsman-friendly flat wickets, or ball-tampering rules could be changed allowing a substance such as wax could be applied to the ball.

“It's an unusual time for the world and if they're going to remove saliva shining for a portion of time they need to think of something else for that portion of time as well,” he said.

“(Either) with the wickets not being as flat or at least considering this shining wax.”

Australian cricket ball manufacturer Kookaburra is developing a wax applicator that allows players to shine the ball without using saliva.


https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cric...mble-coronavirus-covid-19/article31676629.ece

 

[MenInG]

CRICKET COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS PROHIBITION OF SALIVA TO SHINE THE BALL

The ICC Cricket Committee today recommended changes to ICC regulations to mitigate the risks posed by the COVID-19 virus, and protect the safety of players and match officials.

The Committee, chaired by Anil Kumble, concluded a conference call convened to specifically address issues related to COVID-19 including maintaining the condition of the match ball and the appointment of non-neutral umpires and referees to international cricket. The recommendations of the Cricket Committee will now be presented to the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee in early June for approval.

Match Ball

The ICC Cricket Committee heard from the Chair of the ICC Medical Advisory Committee Dr Peter Harcourt regarding the elevated risk of the transmission of the virus through saliva, and unanimously agreed to recommend that the use of saliva to polish the ball be prohibited.

The Committee also noted the medical advice that it is highly unlikely that the virus can be transmitted through sweat and saw no need to prohibit the use of sweat to polish the ball whilst recommending that enhanced hygiene measures are implemented on and around the playing field.

Non-Neutral Umpires and referees to international matches

The current regulations that apply to the appointment of match officials to men’s Test, ODI and T20I matches are summarised below. Since 2002, officials appointed by the ICC must not be from the same country as the participating teams.


View attachment 101103


Given the challenges of international travel with borders being closed, limited commercial flights and mandatory quarantine periods, the Committee recommended that local match officials be appointed in the short-term.

The appointments will continue to be made via the ICC from local Elite and International Panel referees and umpires. Where there are no Elite Panel match officials in the country, the best local International Panel match officials will be appointed.

The Committee also recommended that the use of technology is increased to support the appointments of a wider pool of umpires from around the world and has proposed an additional DRS review per team per innings is introduced in each format as an interim measure.

ICC Cricket Committee Chair Anil Kumble said: “We are living through extraordinary times and the recommendations the Committee have made today are interim measures to enable us to safely resume cricket in a way that preserves the essence of our game whilst protecting everyone involved.”

ICC Cricket Committee chairman Anil Kumble says the inexperience of local umpires, who are expected to officiate in Test matches once action resumes post the COVID-19 pandemic, is the reason behind recommending an extra review, which according to him will give a level playing field to both the teams.

Besides recommending the ban of using saliva on the ball, the Kumble-led ICC Cricket Committee has also suggested for local umpires and additional review in Test matches in the post COVID-19 scenario.

Reasoning the ICC Cricket Committee’s recommendations, the former India captain said the suggestion to use of local umpires was made because of travel restrictions around the world in the wake of the pandemic.

“I think the need of hour was to start cricket. We also felt that because of travel restrictions, there could be quarantine measures. You don’t have too many elite umpires in the panel. So, we felt that for cricket to kickstart, its best to use local umpires,” Kumble said on Star Sports show 'Cricket Connected'.

“Most countries don’t have the experience, the local umpires don’t have the experience of a Test Match or being part of a Test match. The reason that we started neutral umpiring 20 years ago was because there was the perception of a bias.

“The recommendation for an extra review for both teams is not to root that out but we felt that there could be potential inexperience being in a Test match situation, which is why the advantage of the additional review would probably benefit both the teams,” he added.

While the ICC Cricket Committee recommended a ban on the usage of saliva to shine the ball, it didn’t feel sweat would pose a serious health risk.

https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cric...tra-drs-review-saliva-ban/article31680022.ece

 

[Titan24]

Maybe something artificial can be created to replace saliva. Its 99.5% water and other enzymes, electrolytes etc. I think texture and cricket use wise something might be possible.

 

[MenInG]

The owner of ball manufacturer Dukes says bowlers should have “no problem” producing swing in England this summer, despite the imminent ban on using saliva.

After recommendations from the International Cricket Council’s medical advisory committee it seems certain that a temporary restriction will be placed on players using the traditional method of spitting or licking their fingers to shine up the ball when the sport resumes.

Australia seamer Mitchell Starc has warned that children may not want to become bowlers if a lack of movement through the air made life for batsmen too easy, but Chris Woakes suggested last week the swing-friendly Dukes used by the England and Wales Cricket Board could be a saving grace for pacemen on these shores.

Now Dilip Jajodia, owner of the manufacturer, has offered his reassurance.

“Woakes is absolutely correct, I don’t see swing being a big problem in England,” Jajodia told the PA news agency.

“You have to have a balance between bat and ball otherwise the game is boring, we know that. But it’s not just the shiny surface or the rough side that causes swing, it’s the integrity of the ball.

“You don’t have to worry because with a ball constructed like ours you’ve got a good shape, a strong seam that acts as a rudder through the air and, because it is hand-stitched, it stays harder for longer.

“They are not banning the use of sweat so you run your hand over your forehead and, with the nature of the leather, a rigorous polish should get the grease moving enough to give a good shine.”

Australian manufacturers Kookaburra have developed a wax applicator in an attempt to offer a short-term boost to bowlers but Jajodia had a simple word of advice for any seamers looking for extra help.

“These days the kits are polyester but when you want to materials to work for each other they both need to be natural, like the leather of the ball. Think of the great Malcolm Marshall or Angus Fraser, they always had a cotton towel tucked in to their trousers.

“This summer more than any other that is what people should be using.”

The sporting shutdown came at a dreadful time for what is essentially a seasonal trade, but Jajodia remains confident that a business which dates back to the 18th century is ready to ride this difficult period.

“If next year they still aren’t allowing amateur sport then we really would be up the Khyber Pass. There would have to be a subsidy from somewhere otherwise we won’t be around anymore,” he said.

“But we have a strong balance sheet, no borrowings and with our reputation I’m confident we will not need to resort to any outside assistance.”

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/no-problem-getting-ball-swing-080029510.html

 

[MenInG]

Will cricket lose reverse swing to COVID-19? An ICC panel recommendation to ban the use of saliva to shine the ball has left the practitioners of the art worried.

Former Pakistan fast bowler Sarfraz Nawaz, who pioneered reverse swing, admits the rule change will have an impact. “I understand that it is a temporary measure but the bowlers need to forget about reverse swing for now. If you cannot shine the ball, you cannot reverse swing. The batsmen will have the edge till this new rule is in place,” Nawaz told Sportstar from London.

For a fast bowler, swing is one of the major weapon, especially in red-ball cricket. When the ball is new and shiny, the bowlers usually extract the conventional swing. Creating asymmetry in the ball -- where one half is shinier than the other -- is crucial to get the reverse swing going.

But nearly four decades ago, it was Nawaz, who realised that swing could also be extracted with an older ball. The idea was simple -- keep shining one side of the red cherry from the beginning and letting the other side get rough.

While Nawaz mastered the craft, he passed on the knowledge to Imran Khan, who improvised it further.

Challenge for the quicks

“The main problem now would be that the ball is not going to get rough on one side and shiny on the other half. Because of that the fast bowlers will definitely suffer and taking advantage of that the batsmen will pile up runs. Towards the end, when the ball is older, the fast bowlers shine the ball on one side and reverse viciously. The tail-enders, in particular, can’t play those sort of deliveries. But now, that’s not going to happen,” Nawaz said.

It is the conventional swing the pacers now have to rely on. “Now the thing is if the ball gets older after 10 overs, it will remain like that. Just using sweat won’t be of much help because that will only make the ball wet and that shine will be missing -- that’s the most important thing for reverse swing…”

The 71-year-old, who featured in 55 Tests and 45 ODIs for Pakistan, feels that the impact will be more on the ODIs and the T20Is. “When there are rough pitches, they will only be able to cut the ball and cannot swing in the air. They can try out slower deliveries and might as well need to come up with newer ideas,” Nawaz said.

More of dull draws

With the bowlers losing out on the advantage, Nawaz believes that the chances of Test matches ending in dull draws could be more. “The ICC was thinking of reducing Test cricket from five days to four days. But now it looks like, they would require six days to get results. Since the bowlers will not get much benefit, the number of dull draws will go up,” the former pacer said.

This scenario is going to throw up a challenge for the fast bowlers, and Nawaz believes that the pacers, who are good with the new ball need not worry much. “People who could bowl with the new ball or semi new ball, they will survive. But players who rely majorly on reverse swing and wait for the ball to get old, will struggle,” he said, adding that youngsters like Shaheen Shah Afridi will be more effective now.

“If you look at Naseem Shah, he is injury-prone. But I think Shaheen Afridi will be more effective because he has the ability to scalp wickets with new balls, and he doesn’t rely on reverse swing. He can be the most successful Pakistan bowler now,” Nawaz said.

When cricket slowly crawls back to some sort of normalcy, new methods to shine the ball may become part of life for the fast bowlers across the world. But as Nawaz puts it, “people can forget about reverse swing for at least two years now”.

https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cric...of-reverse-swing-pakistan/article31741938.ece

 

[Monsee]

Imran Khan, IMO the original promoter of the idea for 'allowing some forms of tampering to be allowed' to restore balance between bat and ball (just like his brilliant move of introducing Neutral Umpiring)...has been conspicuously absent from all recent articles. This, while every Tom, Dick, and Harry is making statements as if this is something they have come up with all of sudden!

The younger generation of cricket fans will not even know (if reading all these latest articles discussing banning of Saliva/Sweat etc.) for better either. Why is it that all experts, media etc. have failed to give credit to Imran for being so far ahead of the these so-called experts, in promoting the idea since the 1980's I believe?

What do you think?

 

[MenInG]

Cricket chief Anil Kumble hopes a ban on using saliva to shine the ball after the coronavirus shutdown could see a resurgence of spin bowling in Test cricket.

The International Cricket Council is expected to order a temporary ban next week on using spit as a shining agent, as part of measures to get the sport restarted.

Fast bowlers could struggle to swing the ball under the new rules with Australian quick bowler Mitchell Starc saying the game could be come "boring" if batters dominate.

But Kumble, the former Indian Test captain and now chairman of the ICC cricket committee that recommended the ban, is hoping spinners could play a bigger part as a result.

"You can probably leave grass on the surface or even rough it up and have two spinners," he told an online forum on Wednesday.

"Let's get spinners back in the game in a Test match. Because if it's a one-day or T20 game, you're not worried about the ball or shining of the ball."

The former leg-spinner said he would love to see "two spinners playing in Australia, two spinners playing in England, which never happens."

And he said that ground staff could create pitch conditions to favour spinners.

"In cricket you have the surface you can play around with and bring about a balance between bat and ball," he said.

"All of us are yearning to start the game and not really worried about saliva or sweat or condition of the ball -- we just want to play cricket."

Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah said earlier this week there should be an alternative to saliva when cricket resumes while fellow paceman Mohammed Shami said sweat is not a viable replacement.

Australian ball manufacturer Kookaburra is developing a wax applicator to shine the ball, but the world body is reluctant to allow artificial aids.

Kumble believes that allowing an artificial substance on the ball would kill the creativity of the sport.

"We've been very strict about substances that have been used on the ball," he said.

Cricket, like nearly all sport, was halted in March when India and many other nations ordered lockdowns.

https://www.france24.com/en/20200604-spinners-have-chance-to-shine-during-saliva-ban-kumble

 

[MenInG]

Lahore: Pacer Mohammad Abbas is confident that the International Cricket Council (ICC) will soon provide an alternative of not using saliva on the ball.

The ICC Cricket Committee led by Anil Kumble suggested a ban on the use of saliva in order to minimize the risk of coronavirus. ICC has also affirmed the suggestion in its guidelines for the resumption of cricket.

“I am used to applying saliva on the ball for shine, it would be difficult to leave. I am confident that the ICC will definitely provide an alternative,” Abbas said.

“Bowler is incomplete if he doesn’t shine the ball and the game of cricket will be totally different because of the restrictions,” he added.

Read also: Ban on saliva is temporary measure: ICC Cricket Committee’s chairman
Abbas said that the players will have to remind themselves, again and again, to take precautionary measures during the game.

“I often forget during the sessions not to shine the ball. The style of celebrating after taking a wicket will also change,” he maintained.

He also revealed that he is missing county cricket which is postponed due to the spread of the virus in the UK.

“If county cricket was going on, it would have benefited me and the team. I got to play there and got the benefit before the series against England in 2018,” he added.

It must be noted that Pakistan is scheduled to play matches in England. PCB is yet to confirm a ‘bio-secure’ tour of England. As many as 25 players will fly for England to play three Tests and as many T20Is.

https://arysports.tv/abbas-confident-icc-will-provide-alternative/

 

[MenInG]

An International Cricket Council board meeting on Wednesday could see the global governing body uphold a recommendation to prohibit the use of saliva in order to stop the transmission of the coronavirus.

Bowlers traditionally get the ball to move or swing in the air, thereby making it harder for batsmen to hit, by applying shine to one side via sweat -- which can still be used -- or saliva.

However, as a temporary measure to combat COVID-19, the ICC's cricket committee has suggested banning the use of saliva.

AFP Sport shines a light on the issue:

Massie's match

-- One of the most extraordinary individual performances in cricket history saw Australia swing bowler Bob Massie take 16 for 137 on his Test debut against England at Lord's in 1972.

Yet Massie won just five more caps and took only 15 more wickets, with the bowler himself saying he had struggled on a subsequent tour of the West Indies where he adjusted his action and was never the same cricketer again.

Massie's remarkable maiden Test and the lavish swing he generated at Lord's led to suggestions he'd applied lip salve to the ball in order to maintain the shine -- an accusation he has always denied.

"Some days things go just right," Massie said by way of explaining his remarkable introduction to Test cricket.

Reverse swing

-- It used to be thought that as a cricket ball got older it would swing less.

But a technique pioneered by Pakistan paceman Sarfraz Nawaz, partly in response to the slow and batsmen-friendly pitches of his homeland, led to the development of reverse swing.

"Just using sweat won't be of much help because that will only make the ball wet and that shine will be missing," said Sarfraz.

Sarfraz confused a succession of batsmen by bowling in-swingers with an old ball.

He helped compatriot Imran Khan add reverse swing to his armoury and in the 1990s there were probably no better exponents than the Pakistan fast-bowling duo of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

In 1992, the pair took 43 wickets between them as Pakistan won a five-match Test series in England 2-1.

Mint condition

-- Over time, teams all round the world came to realise that in order to generate reverse swing it was vital the ball was 'looked after' properly, with one side polished and the other kept bone dry.

Swing bowlers such as Andrew Flintoff, Matthew Hoggard and Simon Jones were pivotal to England regaining the Ashes from Australia in 2005.

But it was England opening batsman Marcus Trescothick who later revealed he had put Murray Mints sweets to good use in the field because sucking them stimulated most saliva, which could then be applied to the ball.

Play on with Pollock?

-- It seems unlikely cricket chiefs will row back from the saliva ban but former South Africa paceman Shaun Pollock, even though he is a member of the ICC cricket committee, gave current swing bowlers a glimmer of hope by suggesting health checks in place for next month's behind closed doors three-Test series between England and the West Indies might make it redundant.

"I think the environment that'll end up being created is almost going to be like a bubble," Pollock told the Following On Cricket Podcast.

"People will get tested, they'll go into a two-week camp where they're just going to sit and monitor how the conditions of their bodies change.

"And if there are no symptoms, it doesn't really matter about shining the ball then, because you're in the bubble and no one you come into contact with will have coronavirus.

"So you can just get on with normal proceedings."

https://www.msn.com/en-za/sport/cri...rickets-kings-of-swing/ar-BB15a4oG?li=BBqg9qI

 

[Abdullah719]

ICC Will Have to Ensure Cricket Doesn't Become One-Sided Affair After Saliva Ban: Wasim Jaffer

Spoiler

The prospect of bowlers not being able to apply saliva to shine the ball is becoming a major concern among current and former cricketers alike as they fear it could further tip the balance in favour of batsmen.

The current rules are often criticised for being batting-friendly with the boundary line getting shorter, bats getting thicker and the use of two new balls from each end in ODIs. Add to it the ban on saliva, an interim measure in wake of the coronavirus pandemic, and the bowlers will be deprived of producing swing, a major weapon.

Former India opener Wasim Jaffer said the ICC will have to provide an alternative to keep the balance

“The ICC has come up with a solution of not using the saliva, or things like that. For bowlers it is going to be hard to not use saliva, and not shine the ball. Then I think, it is going to be lot easier for batsmen,” Jaffer said during an Instagram chat with Indian Oil.

“Again, ICC will have to make sure that the balance remains pretty equal for batsmen and bowlers and you don’t want to make it one-sided for anyone of them,” he added.

Jaffer, who announced his retirement from all forms of cricket this year in March, says use of two new balls in Test cricket and a sporting pitch could be the way forward.

“I suggested that in Test match you could use two new balls, that is one thing that can happen. Probably the curators can make a wicket which is even for both batsmen and bowlers, not too batting or bowling friendly,” he said.

Strict social distancing measures will become the new norm once cricket resumes but Jaffer reckons it will be very difficult in a game like cricket which isn’t physical but social in nature.

“It will be interesting. Cricket is not a very physical sport, but still in the dressing room, you sit very close, while you are going to field you make a huddle and the captain talks, gives you a motivating talk, it’s very hard to maintain that distance,” the 42-year-old observed.

He continued, “At the end of an over, batsmen come close and chat together, it is hard to follow those things and remember all those things in an intense game.”

https://www.cricketcountry.com/news...d-affair-after-saliva-ban-wasim-jaffer-932464

 

[MenInG]

The International Cricket Council (ICC) have banned the usage of saliva to shine the ball as a precautionary measure for cricket to be played in the post-Covid-19 era. India legend Sachin Tendulkar and Australia bowling legend Brett Lee talked about the measures taken by the global cricket governing body and discussed how can cricket be kept more balanced and not let it tilt too much in the favour of batsmen.

“It’s a tough call because it’s something which we have done during our entire life. From the age of 8-9, we were told to use saliva to shine the ball. So, all of a sudden to be told something different like you cannot do that, I think it will be very hard to stop and would be very hard to police,” Lee said while speaking to Tendulkar in a video posted by 100MB.

While some former cricketers have suggested the use of sweat to shine the ball, both Tendulkar and Lee said that in cold conditions with less humidity and perspiration, the players could face trouble. “If you don’t sweat, how do you shine the ball in absence of saliva. I don’t think its fair for the bowlers and it’s a disadvantage for them,” said Lee.

“I think the ICC needs to look into that. They can assist the bowlers by giving them something they can apply to shine the ball, something which everyone agrees upon,” he added.

In the video, Tendulkar suggested that ICC could look into allowing a new ball in Test cricket after 50 overs, instead of 80 overs. He also suggested the usage of wax by bowlers to shine the ball. “Allocate a certain amount of wax per inning to be used by a team, say X grams,” suggested Tendulkar.

“Test the players say two hours prior to the game and then move with the usual things. If players are kept in a bubble, in a bio-secure environment where there are no chances of getting infected, why not go with the usual rules instead of coming with new rules?” Lee also asked.

The cricket is set to return from next month with England playing West Indies in three-match Test series starting July 8.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...t-covid-era/story-F6WuqPPPbMp7Swx1AkxHlI.html

 

[Firebat]

Interim regulation changes approved

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed interim changes to its playing regulations, which include the ban on the use of saliva to shine the ball and allowing home umpires in international series.

Bowlers will not be allowed to use saliva on the ball

The ICC Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) ratified recommendations from the Anil Kumble-led Cricket Committee, aimed at mitigating the risks posed by the COVID-19 virus and protect the safety of players and match officials when cricket resumes.

COVID-19 Replacements: Teams will be allowed to replace players displaying symptoms of COVID-19 during a Test match. In line with concussion replacements, the Match Referee will approve the nearest like-for-like replacement.

However, the regulation for COVID-19 replacements will not be applicable in ODIs and T20Is.

Ban on applying saliva to the ball: Players will not be permitted to use saliva to shine the ball. If a player does apply saliva to the ball, the umpires will manage the situation with some leniency during an initial period of adjustment for the players, but subsequent instances will result in the team receiving a warning.

A team can be issued up to two warnings per innings but repeated use of saliva on the ball will result in a 5-run penalty to the batting side. Whenever saliva is applied to the ball, the umpires will be instructed to clean the ball before play recommences.

Non-neutral umpires: The requirement to appoint neutral match officials will be temporarily removed from the playing conditions for all international formats owing to the current logistical challenges with international travel. The ICC will be able to appoint locally based match officials from the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Officials and the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Officials.

Additional DRS reviews: The CEC has also confirmed an additional unsuccessful DRS review for each team in each innings of a match, keeping in mind that there may be less experienced umpires on duty at times. This will increase the number of unsuccessful appeals per innings for each team to three for Tests and two for the white-ball formats.

The ICC Cricket Operations team will support Match Referees when processing Code of Conduct breaches, and a neutral Elite Panel match referee will conduct any hearing remotely via video link.

An earlier media release on the recommendations of the Cricket Committee and details on appointment of match officials is available here.

Additional logo allowed: Meanwhile, the CEC has also approved a relaxation of rules on apparel logos for the next 12 months.

A logo, not exceeding 32 square inches in size, may be placed on the chest of the Test match shirt and sweater in addition to the three other logos allowed as per regulations. As of now, logos on chests are only allowed in ODIs and T20Is.

 

[MenInG]

Legendary Pakistan paceman Wasim Akram warned on Wednesday that bowlers would become "robots" after cricket officials temporarily banned shining the ball with saliva as a coronavirus precaution. Bowlers traditionally get the ball to move or swing in the air by applying shine to one side using sweat or saliva.

The International Cricket Council, however, has temporarily banned the practice over virus transmission fears as teams prepare to return to the pitch in the coming weeks. Players can still apply sweat to the ball. "It will make bowlers robots, coming and bowling without swing," Akram told AFP, saying they would have to be patient and wait for the ball to age naturally.

"It's a quizzical situation for me as I grew up using saliva to shine the ball and to swing it," he added.

"I am all for precautions in these tough times, so bowlers have to wait for the ball to get old and rough for them to get swing.

Sweat alone was unlikely to generate swing as in some countries it was too cold, said Akram.

"Sweat is just something of an add-on, a top-up. Too much use of sweat will leave the cricket ball too wet," he said.

Akram, who took 414 Test and 502 one-day international wickets in a storied career, believes artificial substance could potentially help as he encouraged officials to keep searching for alternatives.

"I believe that they will need to find a reasonable solution. Artificial substances like vaseline could be used to swing the ball but how much of it?

"Let's see, we have this England versus the West Indies series to judge how it goes, because I have never experienced this thing."

International cricket resumes with England hosting the West Indies in a Test series later this month .

Akram said suggestions that limited ball-tampering be allowed should also be considered by officials.

"When can you tamper the ball? Right from the first over or after 20-25 overs? They will need to sit down and do brainstorming," he added.

"The game is already tilted more in favour of the batsmen."

https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/pak...s-saliva-ban-will-make-bowlers-robots-2243909

 

[ask_analyse_act]

I think for ODIs may be use a new ball every 20 overs

in tests use new ball every 40 overs

t20s Should be fine

 

[azimiqbal]

This is dumbest thing I have ever heard , so they are worried about people getting infected?

If players are quaranteed and tested properly they will be covid free !

So why do we need to ban using saliva ?

If your that worried and it’s that dangerous just don’t play simple

 

[MenInG]

The International Cricket Council on Tuesday approved interim changes in its playing regulations to combat the threat posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. The change in rule that is expected to impact cricket the most is the ban on the use of saliva to shine cricket balls.

Many cricket experts and former players are of the opinion that this will lead to fast bowlers not getting any help in terms of the ball swinging in the air as saliva helps keep the shine on one side of the ball.

This they feel will make batting easier and give batsmen an advantage. Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram went to the extent of saying that bowlers will become ‘robots’ as a result of this change and suggested the use of artificial substance, within permissible amount, to help fast bowlers.

Former India captain Rahul Dravid was asked to give his opinion on the matter on Sony Ten Pitstop and he suggested a wait and watch policy. Dravid said that sweat can help in shining the ball and it could be given a shot in the upcoming series between England and West Indies.

“The series between England and West Indies is going to be a good test. There will be a lot of learning for everyone. A lot people are saying that in England if you use sweat it has the same effect you have with saliva, so it shouldn’t stop you from shining the ball.

“I am not sure if they will allow a foreign substance on the ball. I think they will first try it with sweat and if it produces the same effect then you don’t need to do anything,” Darvid opined.

He also suggested that if sweat is not able to produce desired results then the pitch can be made more challenging for batsmen to make the battle between bat and ball more balanced.

“The other thing that can be done is you make the wickets a little more challenging. Whether you make them greener or if they assist more pace and bounce or make tracks that turn a little bit more.

“What you want is a good contest between bat and ball. That is what we are trying to achieve. And if that can’t be achieved for the short span of time then you create tougher wickets to get that and it will be great cricket to watch,” the former India number 3 said.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...-saliva-ban/story-f1eloVoIwiwdkNbndbZgMO.html

 

[Titan24]

If a player has covid-19 he is gonna effect most of the others either ways in teem meetings, team bus, changing room etc. So not sure what exactly is this rule covering. If a person is effected he can even effect others with the droplets when he talks which is gonna happen in a lot combined team activities.

So I am not exactly sure who is this saliva rule gonna prevent from getting effected, maybe I am missing something.

 

[MenInG]

The perceived loss of swing in the wake of ICC Cricket Committee’s temporary recommendation to prohibit the use of saliva to polish the ball (to tackle COVID-19) and not allow any artificial material as a substitute has divided opinion sharply. The ball manufacturers, whose responsibility it will ultimately be to ensure that the cherry behaves as it should, seem to be taking divergent stands too, but only slightly.

“A few days ago Anil Kumble spoke about how instead of playing around with the ball you should rework the pitches. I think that’s a great suggestion. This way I won’t have to do much (laugh),” said Paras Anand, Director of SG company that supplies balls for Ranji Trophy and Test cricket in India.

“On a serious note, we are looking at all ways to give bowlers some advantage. Without saliva, I doubt fast bowlers will be able to reverse swing. So we’ve made the seam more prominent to help in lateral movement; create a harder core so that the ball will bounce more; add one more layer of lacquer to extend the lifespan.”

Dilip Jajodia, the owner of British Cricket Balls Limited that manufactures the Dukes ball used in England and the West Indies, is adamant that no changes are required. “Swing is not just about the shiny side; the ball has to keep its shape and hardness,” he explained.

“In the hand-stitched Dukes ball, the shoulders drop down much more like a circle than other balls which go out like an apple. The latter is not the right shape for swing. Dukes doesn't need saliva because we already have grease in the leather. Perspiration is allowed and if you give it a vigorous polish, it should be fine.”

Jajodia felt that the initial call for introduction of artificial substances and the ensuing debate appeared to be responding to immediate requirements. “The fast bowlers are like ‘oh we can't swing the ball...' Why don’t you ask if there is a spinner who will be better off and might get wickets? Playing conditions shouldn’t be changed that easily. It's okay if it is a universal problem, but it’s not!”

Paras, on his part, said that he would wait for the BCCI to spell out its requirements. “Obviously, we can’t change the dimensions of the ball but we can tweak the ball. But this is just us preparing for what ‘might be’. We will have to wait for the BCCI to come to us before we ‘standardise’ anything.”

https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cric...s-ball-manufacturers-bcci/article31772641.ece

 

[SensiblePakFan]

Which idiots idea was it to ban polishing a ball?

Its already a batsmen game, might as well put a bowling machine at the crease instead ***.

 

[MenInG]

Former Australia captain Mark Taylor on Sunday warned that ban on the usage of saliva, to combat the COVID-19 threat, runs the risk of upsetting balance between bat and ball in Test cricket. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has banned the use of saliva on ball as an interim health safety measure in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic -- a move that has raised concerns about the game becoming even more batsmen friendly.

“I think it is a bit of a concern because I like, particularly in Test matches, to see the ball slightly dominate the bat, it is much better game when Test cricket is played that way,” Taylor told ‘Channel 9’. The 55-year-old former opener is concerned about the fact that no saliva means a delivery would become predictable for a batsman.

“My concern will be that if the players can’t shine the ball and the ball does get very straight and very predictable we are going to see more and more runs, more and more high scores in Test match cricket,” Taylor said. “And that is not the best Test match cricket. Test cricket is much better when the score is around 300,” he added.

The ICC has also introduced the system of issuing two warnings per innings to players found violating the saliva ban. Any further violation will result in a five-run penalty. “They have said try and be lenient which I’m sure they will be but eventually one umpire is going to stick his neck out and say ‘that’s a five run penalty’,” Taylor said.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...arns-taylor/story-BZhA2pd4RxUPp68KHHqqiM.html

 

[MenInG]

American inventor Thomas Edison once said, "genius is one per cent inspiration and 99 per cent perspiration". Who would have thought his famous line would be applicable to fast bowling in the new normal?

Former swing bowler Damien Fleming is only half joking when he says he can imagine the cover fielder sprinting between deliveries in the COVID-safe environment. Or players warming up more vigorously and wearing extra layers.

With players now officially banned from applying saliva, sweat is now the bowler's only friend when it comes to shining the ball.

Curators, however, may also come to their aid by producing livelier pitches amid widespread concerns the saliva ban will tilt the game further in favour of the bat.

If necessity is the mother of invention, then players and teams will find ways to get ahead.

Australian conditions are generally batsman-friendly. Pitches are flat, Kookaburra balls swing only briefly and the lush outfields are not conducive to reverse swing.

"You're trying to maximise 20 overs out of it," Fleming said. "It can mean the difference between having two or three wickets early and being into the middle order in the first session of a Test as opposed to it being gun-barrel straight and you're defending straight away."

Pre-pandemic, profuse sweaters were the least suitable to shine the ball for fear they would moisten the rougher side. Now, they may become the number one applicant.

"I remember reading about the Poms a few tours ago. They worked out their biggest sweater and kept the ball off them," Fleming said. "Now you'll do testing to find your sweaters because you want to get the ball to them on a coolish day so you can use their sweat. Someone like Merv Hughes, he'd be the first picked these days. He'd sweat in an igloo."

Fleming is intrigued by the methods teams will deploy, particularly in cooler conditions.

"Why is cover doing laps in between balls?" Fleming said. "If it's freezing in Hobart and windy, you'll have to get creative – maybe fielders with a couple of jumpers creating that sweat."

Banning saliva for shining the ball will upset the balance of Test cricket, former Australian captain Mark Taylor says.

Test legend Greg Chappell believes the talk of bat being further advantaged over ball is a "bloody storm in a teacup", though as one of the game's most prolific batters he could be predisposed to this view.

He says sweat will be just as effective, maybe even more so from a sun-smart player. As an artificial substance, sunscreen is not allowed on the ball but no governing body will dare ban players from wearing protection.

"If they're wiping perspiration from their forehead, there's sunscreen there. If they're using saliva, they've probably been chewing something, so what's in that?" Chappell said.

"I don't know if it's that big a deal. Perspiration will be the equal of saliva. I don't see the difference, to be honest."

A selector up until after last year's Ashes, Chappell sees only a minimal impact on Australia's prized battalion of quicks, though the effect of Mitchell Starc's in-swinging yorker could be dulled.

"None of them are big swingers of the ball – Starc might get some reverse swing – by and large it's the pace and bounce, I don't think we'll notice a huge difference, to be honest," Chappell said.

Chappell does not see any need for the use of a wax applicator, which Kookaburra says it has developed for use instead of bodily fluids.

"Bowlers are inventive enough. If they can get perspiration on the ball, they'll get shine, they'll be able to preserve the ball unless it's a real hard, abrasive wicket," Chappell said. "You've only got to keep enough shine on the ball, and perspiration will do that. I think it's a bloody storm in a teacup myself."

Chappell would not be against more grass being left on pitches. He believes cricket is at its best when conditions are marginally on the bowler's side, and batting techniques more sternly challenged.

"I reckon the best cricket pitches in Australia have had a reasonable covering of grass," Chappell said. "That's the best cricket to watch, the best cricket to play.

"When the balance between bat and ball is out of whack, it reduces the games as a contest, which reduces it as a spectacle. When the balance is slightly in favour of the ball is about the best conditions for cricket in my view."

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricke...reative-after-saliva-ban-20200612-p551zp.html

 

[Firebat]

If players test negative, we can think of allowing use of saliva: Ajit Agarkar

NEW DELHI: Former India pacer Ajit Agarkar understands that saliva-ban is a "safe option" in prevailing situation but urged the custodians of the game to be flexible if players test negative before the start of any series.

Underling the importance of saliva in the game, Agarkar said saliva is as important for bowlers as bat for a batsman.

The ICC's ban will be effective from the first international series between England and West Indies, starting July 8.

"My only contention is that players who will play, will eventually be tested before the game starts. If they are found to be COVID-19 negative then I can at least consider that it will be then safe to put saliva on the ball," Agarkar told PTI during an interaction.

"This is my opinion and probably someone from the medical field can give us a broader view on the subject," the 42-year-old added.

The former speedster however is aware that ICC's Cricket and Medical committee, in prevailing circumstances, didn't have an option but to go for the ban.

"It is very important to shine the ball and there are no two ways about it but it's a difficult one for the committees (referring to ICC Cricket and Medical Committee) as well to straightway after resumption say, 'ok you can use (saliva) it.

"Obviously, they have taken a safe approach and in current situation it is understandable. But we will have to wait and see once England series is underway. It's not going to be easy for the bowlers. But we will have to wait," said Agarkar, who has 349 international wickets in his kitty.

Agarkar said, a game that is already "loaded in favour of batsmen", the ban on saliva will be a huge handicap for pacers and seamers.

"If you ask any bowler, everyone will be a bit apprehensive. In recent times, though the pitches have been quite helpful for bowlers which lends a little bit more balance but overall if you see, batsmen do dominate world cricket at the moment," said India's third highest wicket-taker in ODI cricket behind Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath.

"If you are taking away the saliva bit, which basically is as important as the bat as is to a batsman, it will certainly become tough for bowlers. But we will have to wait and see how it pans out in match situation," said the man, who was once fastest to reach 50 wickets in ODI cricket.

Agarkar, who played 191 ODIs and 26 Tests, will be keenly watching the England-West Indies series which is set to be played in a 'bio-secure' environment.

"We will get an idea during the upcoming England series, as everyone is faced with a situation that no one has every experienced with this pandemic," he concluded.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...-saliva-ajit-agarkar/articleshow/76386411.cms