Jasprit Bumrah says saliva ban is affecting bowlers in Indian conditions..Excuses or a real issue?

[MenInG]

India pacer Jasprit Bumrah said he wasn’t too sure how the pitch at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai will behave in the coming days and that he will adopt a wait-and-watch policy, after England opener Dom Sibley and captain Joe Root frustrated the home team’s bowlers with a 200-run partnership for the third wicket on the opening day of the first Test on Friday.

Bumrah and fellow fast bowler Ishant Sharma were seen complaining to the umpires between the 40th and 45th overs about the stitching on the ball wearing off, and they started asking for the new ball much before the stipulated 80 overs.

“The ball did become soft after a while. The wickets too were on the flatter side and so the bounce was less. So, you are left with limited options trying to figure out what to do. It was difficult. We can’t shine it well with saliva because of the Covid-19 rules... In India, the ball gets roughed up, and in order to get reverse swing, you have to make one side heavy. Sometimes sweat doesn’t really serve the purpose,” Bumrah said during a virtual press conference after the first day’s play.

“It is difficult to assess till both teams have bowled... We will see session by session how the wicket is changing. We can then adapt accordingly and make changes to our plans if need be,” he said.

Root, coming in at the fall of England's second wicket with the score on 63, became the ninth batsman in history to score a century in his 100th Test match.

“He has some good innings behind him (228 and 186 against Sri Lanka in his last two games). He was sweeping and reverse-sweeping as well. I have noticed that while playing the spinners, he was staying low and trying to read the trajectory very quickly. He played a good innings. Full credit to him,” Bumrah said about the England captain.

“We bowled really well in patches. In the last session, however, we gave a few extra runs. We will look to create more pressure tomorrow,” he added.

Bumrah brought an end to the day’s play with the wicket of Sibley off the third ball of the 90th over. England will resume its first innings on Saturday at 263 for three.

https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cric...-india-vs-england-chennai/article33760748.ece

 

[pillionrider]

There was a shot of the ball around the 60th over mark and it looked like a dog had gone nuts on it.

 

[silentkiller187]

Excuses, the rule has now been around long enough. Also both sets of players have the same issue so it doesn't give one set of plyers an advantage over others.

 

[pillionrider]

There was a shot of the ball around the 60th over mark and it looked like a dog had gone nuts on it.

It was in the 56th over

 

[gazza619]

Desperate times need desperate measures but I am not expecting the ICC to use common sense and amend the rules temporarily to allow ball change after 60 overs.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

“The ball did become soft after a while. The wickets too were on the flatter side and so the bounce was less. So, you are left with limited options trying to figure out what to do. It was difficult. We can’t shine it well with saliva because of the Covid-19 rules... In India, the ball gets roughed up, and in order to get reverse swing, you have to make one side heavy. Sometimes sweat doesn’t really serve the purpose,” Bumrah said during a virtual press conference after the first day’s play.

[/url]

All the dirty little secrets coming out with Covid it seems. These guys were hiding nicely in the shadows for the last few years, wouldn't surprise me if the old Afridi ball chomp hasn't been on the menu in days gone by. All out of the question now of course.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Game is already as batsman friendly as it can get

Unfortunately, tough luck for bowlers (COVID).

 

[cricketjoshila]

Desperate times need desperate measures but I am not expecting the ICC to use common sense and amend the rules temporarily to allow ball change after 60 overs.

Allow artificial polishing agents, if saliva cant be used.

 

[Gabbar Singh]

Allow artificial polishing agents, if saliva cant be used.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...-to-shine-cricket-balls-and-help-sport-resume

 

[cricketjoshila]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2...-to-shine-cricket-balls-and-help-sport-resume

Icc hasn't approved it.

 

[Technics 1210]

Saliva must be salty. Lol!

 

[mazkhan]

Why doesn't someone just spit in their palm discreetly and then call for the ball to be thrown to them and rub the spit on the shiny side .

 

[gazza619]

Allow artificial polishing agents, if saliva cant be used.

That would be technically ball tampering. I doubt they would allow that.

I am all for reverse swing though. Massively missing that art and also the doosra.

The game has become ugly with ugly bowlers.

 

[hoshiarpurexpress]

Why doesn't someone just spit in their palm discreetly and then call for the ball to be thrown to them and rub the spit on the shiny side .

That would be caught with 200 cameras around. BBC will create a documentary on how the subcontinent folk still cannot follow rules and call BCCI a bully.

 

[Shaddy86]

Why doesn't someone just spit in their palm discreetly and then call for the ball to be thrown to them and rub the spit on the shiny side .

Do you think teams don't do such things? A lot of stuff isn't caught on the camera otherwise we'd know about it.

 

[TheSultan]

I’ve been out of the loop. What was the excuse today?

 

[Yk313]

It was in the 56th over

View attachment 106781

I don’t think that is the match ball.

Looks like something that’s gone missing from Wasim/Waqar/Imran/Shoaib’s memorabilia cabinet

 

[Yk313]

Wasn’t Ishant getting reverse though? May just have been with the second new ball but there is utility to be extracted.

Similarly, Nortje/Ngidi/Rabada/Hassan got elaborate shape (almost too much) in the First Test.

Apparently Hassan got reverse today too (haven’t see that though).

 

[trickyone]

What about using sweat?

 

[UzmanBeast]

Wasn’t Ishant getting reverse though? May just have been with the second new ball but there is utility to be extracted.

Similarly, Nortje/Ngidi/Rabada/Hassan got elaborate shape (almost too much) in the First Test.

Apparently Hassan got reverse today too (haven’t see that though).

Hassan got a good shade of reverse swing.

Should bowl from closer to the stumps and his arm should finish towards the slips to swing it more.

 

[MenInG]

It was in the 56th over

View attachment 106781

Is this normal in Indian conditions?

 

[Yk313]

Hassan got a good shade of reverse swing.

Should bowl from closer to the stumps and his arm should finish towards the slips to swing it more.

OK, so nothing elaborate? Will go through the recording over the next few days or next week.

They were getting elaborate shape in the first Test though and completely wasted it.

Bowling from close to the stumps has the impact of making the dip appear protracted. It is something swing bowlers should do with the old and new ball, both.

Cricinfo commentary suggested Ishant was getting healthy shape in to the batsmen. But also suggested Buttler left an in-dipper. Strange choice of shot if one has seen deliveries swinging in to one consistently.

 

[Robert]

I don’t think that is the match ball.

Looks like something that’s gone missing from Wasim/Waqar/Imran/Shoaib’s memorabilia cabinet

Nah, no angle grinder marks )

 

[Yk313]

Nah, no angle grinder marks )

Poor kids wouldn’t have been able to control the swing.

Saw the pimply pubescents in PAK/SAF 1st Test get the ball to hoop around.

Hoop around spectacularly from well outside off and finish down leg.

Or get fiendish dip. Dip fiendishly and fall around good length instead of finishing at the full/yorker length.

Some took the honours by doing the above at the intimidating pace of around 80mph.

Oh to be a batsman against these stalwarts... nightmarish.

 

[UzmanBeast]

OK, so nothing elaborate? Will go through the recording over the next few days or next week.

They were getting elaborate shape in the first Test though and completely wasted it.

Bowling from close to the stumps has the impact of making the dip appear protracted. It is something swing bowlers should do with the old and new ball, both.

Cricinfo commentary suggested Ishant was getting healthy shape in to the batsmen. But also suggested Buttler left an in-dipper. Strange choice of shot if one has seen deliveries swinging in to one consistently.

No, there was quite some reverse swing.

When you watch the wicket of Maharaj, you'll understand that reverse swing was on offer. Surprisingly Shaheen got no reverse swing, which shows that his bowling style isn't good for the subcontinental conditions.

When you use the crease, it makes you a much better bowler. Going from wide on the crease can help you bring the off-stump into play and look for a jagged seam movement. Bowling from close to the stumps allows you to swing the ball into the pads accurately, generating an almost guaranteed LBW or bowled.

Hassan's bowling style is skiddy yet effective, people don't anticipate the ball to come as quickly as it does. Playing him on the back foot is not too effective if he's bowling on the stumps, and when he's on song, he doesn't allow you to come on the front foot as we saw with Maharaj's dismissal. A good bowler is Hassan Ali.

I mentioned this in December as well, that if there is any bowler in our domestic system who can utlize reverse swing, it is Hassan Ali, and his performances have proven my point. The Pindi pitch is deceptive, despite a few balls spinning viciously, it won't spin consistently until Day 4 Lunch. The plates look solid, and the pitch has a shine 4 days into the test, meaning that this wicket is better suited for quicks despite your best efforts to dry it out. I personally don't even think Yasir will play a big role here, I think a lot rides on Hassan.

I barely watched the India game, so I would like to know how the pitch is behaving. From what I understand, it hasn't started breaking so playing 3 spinners was questionable. Ishant is a good bowler, but I saw a picture of the SG ball and it was deteriorating quickly, so it means that England might have a better advantage with Jofra bowling quicker and on the stumps. Their spinners are not that good, and might cost them the series. If Adil Rashid didn't have an injury, he's be a handful on a wicket like Chennai when it starts breaking.

 

[Dingolfy]

No, there was quite some reverse swing.

When you watch the wicket of Maharaj, you'll understand that reverse swing was on offer. Surprisingly Shaheen got no reverse swing, which shows that his bowling style isn't good for the subcontinental conditions.

When you use the crease, it makes you a much better bowler. Going from wide on the crease can help you bring the off-stump into play and look for a jagged seam movement. Bowling from close to the stumps allows you to swing the ball into the pads accurately, generating an almost guaranteed LBW or bowled.

Hassan's bowling style is skiddy yet effective, people don't anticipate the ball to come as quickly as it does. Playing him on the back foot is not too effective if he's bowling on the stumps, and when he's on song, he doesn't allow you to come on the front foot as we saw with Maharaj's dismissal. A good bowler is Hassan Ali.

I mentioned this in December as well, that if there is any bowler in our domestic system who can utlize reverse swing, it is Hassan Ali, and his performances have proven my point. The Pindi pitch is deceptive, despite a few balls spinning viciously, it won't spin consistently until Day 4 Lunch. The plates look solid, and the pitch has a shine 4 days into the test, meaning that this wicket is better suited for quicks despite your best efforts to dry it out. I personally don't even think Yasir will play a big role here, I think a lot rides on Hassan.

I barely watched the India game, so I would like to know how the pitch is behaving. From what I understand, it hasn't started breaking so playing 3 spinners was questionable. Ishant is a good bowler, but I saw a picture of the SG ball and it was deteriorating quickly, so it means that England might have a better advantage with Jofra bowling quicker and on the stumps. Their spinners are not that good, and might cost them the series. If Adil Rashid didn't have an injury, he's be a handful on a wicket like Chennai when it starts breaking.

Last time Adil Rashid played in Chennai he went for 5 per over for 30 overs. I don’t think he has the control to be a test bowler. His 39 plus average pretty much demonstrates it.

 

[Slog]

No, there was quite some reverse swing.

When you watch the wicket of Maharaj, you'll understand that reverse swing was on offer. Surprisingly Shaheen got no reverse swing, which shows that his bowling style isn't good for the subcontinental conditions.

When you use the crease, it makes you a much better bowler. Going from wide on the crease can help you bring the off-stump into play and look for a jagged seam movement. Bowling from close to the stumps allows you to swing the ball into the pads accurately, generating an almost guaranteed LBW or bowled.

Hassan's bowling style is skiddy yet effective, people don't anticipate the ball to come as quickly as it does. Playing him on the back foot is not too effective if he's bowling on the stumps, and when he's on song, he doesn't allow you to come on the front foot as we saw with Maharaj's dismissal. A good bowler is Hassan Ali.

I mentioned this in December as well, that if there is any bowler in our domestic system who can utlize reverse swing, it is Hassan Ali, and his performances have proven my point. The Pindi pitch is deceptive, despite a few balls spinning viciously, it won't spin consistently until Day 4 Lunch. The plates look solid, and the pitch has a shine 4 days into the test, meaning that this wicket is better suited for quicks despite your best efforts to dry it out. I personally don't even think Yasir will play a big role here, I think a lot rides on Hassan.

I barely watched the India game, so I would like to know how the pitch is behaving. From what I understand, it hasn't started breaking so playing 3 spinners was questionable. Ishant is a good bowler, but I saw a picture of the SG ball and it was deteriorating quickly, so it means that England might have a better advantage with Jofra bowling quicker and on the stumps. Their spinners are not that good, and might cost them the series. If Adil Rashid didn't have an injury, he's be a handful on a wicket like Chennai when it starts breaking.

Adil Rashid would be a disaster. He leaks way too many runs for test cricket. If he was purely an attacking option you could excuse that assuming he’s getting wickets but in India you need spinner to be bowling long spells

 

[pillionrider]

Is this normal in Indian conditions?

Don't recall the seam looking so bad. Ball going out of shape, yes. Scuffed up yes.

There was something about a different kind of ball wrt its seam being used. Don't remember the details.

 

[pillionrider]

Is this normal in Indian conditions?

Apparently was supposed to have a more pronounced seam

The India-England Test series that starts on Friday will be played with a modified ball. According to BCCI’s official suppliers Sanspareils Greenlands (SG), the new ball will have a pronounced seam, harder core and will be of a darker shade of red.

Here’s explaining the reason for the change and how it will help India’s bowlers, especially spinners.

Why the change?

For the past few years, the ball has been criticised by top Indian players like captain Virat Kolhi and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. They have complained about the ball getting scuffed up early and losing hardness within the first 10 overs. Following feedback from the players, SG made changes and gave the handmade ball a machine-like finish. SG has been the official supplier for first-class cricket in India since 1993. Over the years, they have taken players’ feedback and modified the ball.

What has been the specific complaint of the cricketers?

Ashwin was vocal about the change in nature of the SG ball. “When I started playing Test cricket, the SG ball used to be top notch, and you could bowl with it even after the 70th or 80th over. The seam used to be standing up strong and straight. But it is not the same anymore,” Ashwin had told the official broadcaster during the home series against West Indies in 2018. After talking to the players in 2019, SG had been fine-tuning the manufacturing process for 18 months.

What is the change?

The ball will now have, as players like to say, uthi hui (pronounced) seam. The cork used inside the ball will be harder and it will have a darker shade of red. The ball is expected to bounce more and retain its hardness till the 60th over. “An important change is the seam. It is more pronounced now. The spinners especially wanted a seam which they can grip and thereby get more revolutions on the ball,” Paras Anand, the marketing director of SG, said.

Does a pronounced seam change the ball’s behaviour?

It certainly does. West Indian legend Michael Holding is of the view that this changed ball will help both pacers and spinners. “Firstly, the higher seam gives the bowler a better grip with his fingers. And especially for the spinner, the better grip gives him ability to impart more spin on the ball. For both the quickie and spinner, when the ball with the pronounced seam hits the pitch, it will deviate more because the higher the seam, the more friction created by the ball on the surface. If you think about the ball hitting the pitch with no friction created, there would be no deviation. Like bowling on glass where you get no friction and the ball just skids off straight,” he says.

Does it help in swing and reverse?

The ridge on the seam trips the air flowing towards it, creating turbulence and the ball is yanked off its straight path. A raised seam means the ridge would be higher and the swing larger, in theory. Thus helping in reverse.

Does a ball with a harder core also help bowlers?

Yes, it does. Extra hardness in the core, which is made of cork, and close quality checks of the leather used has made the new SG ball long-lasting, according the company. “Hardness will stay longer, say 50 to 60 overs. There will be something for the bowlers. The extra bounce too will help bowlers,” says Anand. During the 2018 home series against West Indies, Kohli had called for the Dukes ball to be used for Test cricket around the world, including in India. “To have the ball scuffed up in five overs is not something that we have seen before. The quality of the ball used to be quite high before and I don’t understand the reason why it’s gone down,” Kohli had said during that series. He had expressed concern that the ‘soft ball’ was bringing down the impact of bowlers by 20 per cent in unforgiving Indian conditions.

What about the colour of the ball?

India cricketers, over the years, have preferred balls with a darker shade of red. SG changed the dye and ‘went back’ to the colour the players were used to when most of them first played domestic cricket. “They (Indian cricketers) were happier with the darker shade of red. Over a period of time, you don’t realise and you don’t see the change. So, what they felt was that the colour used to be a darker shade of red. We have gone back to that dark shade. That request came from the Indian team. I feel it is more psychological. But they believed if you use a darker colour, you get a good result. Not just one bowler, a group of bowlers has said that and they felt that the darker the leather, the more helpful it is for the bowlers. Someone gives feedback and you listen. Nobody was in favour of a lighter colour,” Anand says.

Former India pacer RP Singh said there was no science to bowlers opting for a darker shade though there is a pattern. “There is a general feeling among fast bowlers that darker the ball the more it swings. There is no science to it,” he said. A prominent seam helps in gripping the ball better. “With a less prominent seam, it is tougher to swing the ball and you have to bang it harder, which means you have to strain much more.”

https://indianexpress.com/article/e...rker-red-sanspareils-greenlands-ball-7174199/

 

[UzmanBeast]

Last time Adil Rashid played in Chennai he went for 5 per over for 30 overs. I don’t think he has the control to be a test bowler. His 39 plus average pretty much demonstrates it.

I'm thinking from a point of view where you could get a lot more spin from the wicket.

If England batted the same way and had Adil Rashid operating in short bursts, I personally think that it would be quite effective, especially with his variations.

However, his stats are poor and it's probably better that he isn't playing.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Adil Rashid would be a disaster. He leaks way too many runs for test cricket. If he was purely an attacking option you could excuse that assuming he’s getting wickets but in India you need spinner to be bowling long spells

If he was used in short bursts, then maybe it would have given England another more attacking option who could extract more spin from the wicket.

But his record is poor, so it's understandable that he wouldn't do well and wouldn't demonstrate the control needed by England after posting a large total.

 

[Slog]

If he was used in short bursts, then maybe it would have given England another more attacking option who could extract more spin from the wicket.

But his record is poor, so it's understandable that he wouldn't do well and wouldn't demonstrate the control needed by England after posting a large total.

Lol how can you use spinner in short bursts esp in Asia where you use the pacers in short bursts.

Who will be the stock bowler for long spells

 

[UzmanBeast]

Lol how can you use spinner in short bursts esp in Asia where you use the pacers in short bursts.

Who will be the stock bowler for long spells

Maybe Bess/Leach.

I'm just saying that Adil would go for runs, yes, but he has a higher chance of taking wickets.

He hasn't been able to convert his white-ball bowling form into red-ball form, and possibly England have looked past him.

Leg-spinners in tests aren't that great anymore, the role of a spinner is pretty much to keep things tight and take wickets.

 

[Yk313]

No, there was quite some reverse swing.

When you watch the wicket of Maharaj, you'll understand that reverse swing was on offer. Surprisingly Shaheen got no reverse swing, which shows that his bowling style isn't good for the subcontinental conditions.

When you use the crease, it makes you a much better bowler. Going from wide on the crease can help you bring the off-stump into play and look for a jagged seam movement. Bowling from close to the stumps allows you to swing the ball into the pads accurately, generating an almost guaranteed LBW or bowled.

Hassan's bowling style is skiddy yet effective, people don't anticipate the ball to come as quickly as it does. Playing him on the back foot is not too effective if he's bowling on the stumps, and when he's on song, he doesn't allow you to come on the front foot as we saw with Maharaj's dismissal. A good bowler is Hassan Ali.

I mentioned this in December as well, that if there is any bowler in our domestic system who can utlize reverse swing, it is Hassan Ali, and his performances have proven my point. The Pindi pitch is deceptive, despite a few balls spinning viciously, it won't spin consistently until Day 4 Lunch. The plates look solid, and the pitch has a shine 4 days into the test, meaning that this wicket is better suited for quicks despite your best efforts to dry it out. I personally don't even think Yasir will play a big role here, I think a lot rides on Hassan.

I barely watched the India game, so I would like to know how the pitch is behaving. From what I understand, it hasn't started breaking so playing 3 spinners was questionable. Ishant is a good bowler, but I saw a picture of the SG ball and it was deteriorating quickly, so it means that England might have a better advantage with Jofra bowling quicker and on the stumps. Their spinners are not that good, and might cost them the series. If Adil Rashid didn't have an injury, he's be a handful on a wicket like Chennai when it starts breaking.

Thanks for this. Appreciate the post.

Saw the highlights last night and yes, reasonable amount of reverse was on offer.

He could have been a tad fuller to really push the ball through but I guess it was an OK performance.

Re. use of the crease, my bad. I meant to say bowling from close to the stumps should be used to accentuate the shape/swing and make batsmen play more often.

The points about using the crease to mix things up/keep the batsmen guessing and other common-sensical approaches still stand, of course.

I didn’t watch the IND game either but queried the performance on the basis of comments here/Cricinfo.

Re. Pindi pitch, I think there is not much to say apart from the admission that our most gifted batsmen may be content with attractive 50s instead of grinding out 100s to the point of ceding advantage to the opposition. This coupled with a complete inability against spin and we have the incumbent situation.

 

[UzmanBeast]

Thanks for this. Appreciate the post.

Saw the highlights last night and yes, reasonable amount of reverse was on offer.

He could have been a tad fuller to really push the ball through but I guess it was an OK performance.

Re. use of the crease, my bad. I meant to say bowling from close to the stumps should be used to accentuate the shape/swing and make batsmen play more often.

The points about using the crease to mix things up/keep the batsmen guessing and other common-sensical approaches still stand, of course.

I didn’t watch the IND game either but queried the performance on the basis of comments here/Cricinfo.

Re. Pindi pitch, I think there is not much to say apart from the admission that our most gifted batsmen may be content with attractive 50s instead of grinding out 100s to the point of ceding advantage to the opposition. This coupled with a complete inability against spin and we have the incumbent situation.

We weren't thinking straight in our batting.

We should have batted for longer, because even if SAF draw the match, we'd still win the series. Winning a series is important, but our poor batting has cost us that.

Pindi is a pacer's pitch, a lot of us were caught in delusions that it would spin but Rashid Latif predicted it perfectly, you cannot make Pindi into a spinner's pitch.