The International Cricket Council (ICC) is now contemplating banning the use of saliva to shine the ball in international arena amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. According to experts, saliva transmits a disease-causing organism to others and will put the players at risks.
There is widespread speculation that the use of saliva to shine the ball will be put to a halt in a bid to reduce risk of the highly contagious infection when international cricket restarts. Notably, the global cricket body is discussing the idea of letting the use of artificial substances to shine the ball under the supervision of the umpires.
David Warner joins the ongoing debate on saliva to shine the ball
Meanwhile, ferocious Australian opener David Warner does not see the need to ban the use of saliva to shine the ball when cricket resumes after the global lockdown. Warner reckons it doesn’t make any difference in banning the use of saliva to shine the ball as he feels it is no more or no less risky than sharing the change room with teammates.
“You’re sharing change rooms and you’re sharing everything else, I don’t see why you have to change that. 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,” David Warner told ‘cricket.com.au’
Just a day ago, India leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal said that banning the use of saliva will give an unfair advantage to the batsmen. Chahal said it would have an impact on drift and swing on the ball which would become easier for batsmen.