After the lockdown gets over, it is going to be a mammoth task to restart the sports and there is a huge debate going on right now whether to or not to use saliva to shine the ball. While the ICC is looking to ban the use by prioritizing health first due to coronavirus.
However, a lot of cricketers feel that it is not a great move considering that there will be no contest between the ball and the bat.
Recently, Australian cricketer, Steve Smith told that it is not a great idea to ban saliva usage.
I have always been one to want a fair contest between bat and ball, so if that’s taken away, even as a batter I dont think thats great. Whether they can find other ways with certain things, itll be hard. I actually spit on my hands most balls and thats how I get grip and stuff,” ESPNCricinfo quoted Smith as saying.
“So that might take some adjusting to certain things like that, but thats something for the ICC to figure out what they want to do going forward and different regulations. Well see how it all lands, everything is up in the air at the moment, but we`ll see where everything goes,” he added.
After the lockdown, when the cricket returns, there will a lot of changes to the game when it comes to the contact.
The players and umpires have also been asked to maintain social distancing on the cricket field and that includes no handing over of player items (cap, towels, sunglasses, jumpers) to the umpire or teammates.
More to follow…
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