The banning of saliva had stirred the debate that bowlers will be at a disadvantage as they won’t get any assistance to swing or reverse swing the ball. However, two-Test series have been played since the saliva has been banned and bowlers have not complained much about the new norm.
Australian pacer Mitchell Starc also believes that the restriction on not using the natural substance on the ball wouldn’t affect bowling performance in white-ball cricket but Test cricket remains a matter of concern.
Due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, ICC has banned the use of saliva but not sweat after considering the advice of the medical team. But Australia has banned the usage of both saliva and sweat on the ball. Australian players are already well-versed with the new rules as the same have been used back at home in training, warm-up matches, and domestic level cricket.
As now Australia is set to play the three-match ODI and T20I series, Mitchell Starc opines that it is not a huge problem if they are not allowed to use the natural substance to shine the ball in shorter formats.
“It’s probably not something that’s too relevant in white-ball cricket. Once that new ball starts to go, you’re trying to keep it dry anyway. It’s more of a question for red-ball cricket,” the pacer told cricket.com.au on Thursday, ahead of training.
“No doubt we’ll find out what it’s like in these practice games and if we need to revisit some planning around it, I’m sure we’ll have a chat before the series gets underway. We haven’t been able to use sweat or saliva back in Australia so that was pretty simple. Slightly more lenient here with the bowler allowed to use sweat from certain places. It’s not a huge issue in white-ball cricket, I don’t think.
Saliva ban would last longer: Mitchell Starc
Further, Mitchell Starc opined that he saw the England bowlers like Jofra Archer using the sweat on the ball while playing in the recently concluded Test series against Pakistan. He believes that sweat might be allowed but the restriction on the use of saliva will remain for longer in the rule book. However, in the end, he points out that the Test team would face challenges because of the new rules.
“I think we saw a bit during that England (Test) series, Jofra (Archer) using some sweat off his back and that sort of thing. If the world stays as it is for a little while, those restrictions will still be there. That saliva one will probably be around for a lot longer anyway. It’s one for the red-ball team to talk about when we get to that point, but at the moment we’re pretty good,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Australia team would be playing the first international tour against England since March. They last played the series against New Zealand at their home ground which was cancelled in the middle after playing the first ODI match. The T20I series will start from 4 September followed by the ODI series slated from 11 September.