The topic which is bowling up in cricket is legalising of ball-tampering post-COVID-19. ICC is just considering using artificial materials on the ball instead of saliva and sweat, which can spread the virus. Though no particular call has been taken on the subject, former Indian cricketer Ashish Nehra and Aakash Chopra including Harbhajan Singh keep their view on the same subject.
Players use saliva and sweat to shine the ball which helps in swinging the ball, which is legal in ICC’s rule but using outer material like sandpaper, bottle caps or vaseline is against the rules.
Sweat and saliva must be applied: Ashish Nehra
Former Indian pacer has said that saliva and sweat are important components without which ball will not do the necessary moment and it will not help the bowler. He also explained why vaseline cannot be the replacement of sweat and saliva.
“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.
“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.
Harbhajan Singh also disagrees with the ball-tampering:
The spinner Harbhajan Singh agrees with Nehra and is strictly against the use of other materials. He said that it will against the game.
“It’s not that Murray mint can be used without putting it in your mouth. The coat of sugar on the saliva makes it heavier after one side gets scuffed. A scuffed-up ball is also good for spinners as it ensures a better grip than a shiny new ball. But my question is, if you allow, what’s the limit?
“Suppose you legalise ball-tampering and let people use bottle cap. Now the ball starts reversing from the fifth over. Is it fair? Or may be umpires come into play and they tell you now is the time when you can use an external substance.
“I mean, in any case, taking saliva out of the equation means taking swing out which may not be a good idea,” said the owner of 700-plus international wickets.
Aakash Chopra openly keeps his view:
The cricketer turned commentator Aakash Chopra is unable to guess what can be the replacement of the two components.
“I always felt that allowing mint shouldn’t be a problem. But now they have gone to the extent that they don’t want to allow mint. But now if you change the rule, ok let’s allow them to use fingernails, vaseline, now where does it stop God knows,” said Chopra, who is also a respected analyst.
“Spinners won’t mind as they do get a bit of drift if the ball is kept shiny from one side. So they won’t actually mind as long as you are not landing the shiny surface of the ball,” Chopra said.
The unprecedented virus can spread from the contact thus social distancing and washing hands are advised by the health organization. The virus may force some changes in the game of cricket.