Former Indian wicket-keeper batsman and current commentator Deep Dasgupta feels the saliva ban will take away an important weapon from bowlers’ armory. It is well known that the fast bowlers rely on shinning the ball with the help of their saliva. Bowlers keep one side of the ball shinier and the other side is left rough so that the ball reverse swings.
If the bowlers will not be able to use their saliva to shine the ball, they are going to lose out on the swing. Anil Kumble-led ICC Cricket Committee recently took the decision to ban saliva when the cricket action returns amid the coronavirus pandemic. However, the committee has given a nod to the use of sweat but they have barred saliva because of health risks to the players.
Deep Dasgupta feels it is impossible to replace saliva.
Former Australian opening batsman Matthew Hayden had criticized the idea and he said that the players should be able to use saliva if they are virus-free.
“It’s a very important part of bowlers’ armory. From that perspective, it is a big thing. So how they will adapt that is something we’ll have to wait and see. Having said that obviously it is a big thing,” said Dasgupta while talking to India Today.
On the other hand, India’s veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh had suggested the use of two new balls (50 overs each) as an alternative. However, Deep Dasgupta feels the move will not suit spinners when they play outside the sub-continent conditions.
“Well, they have to find a way. That is a possibility. See saliva is such a versatile tool. You’re talking about changing balls so that it can make a difference to fast bowlers. Now then what happens to the spinners when they play outside the sub-continent. I can understand it will help the fast bowlers, even to the spinners to some extent,” said Dasgupta
The former Bengal gloveman feels it is impossible to replace saliva. There were talks that the ICC is contemplating to allow ball-tampering in front of the umpires with the use of external substances so that players don’t their saliva on the ball.
How will bowlers plan, questions Deep Dasgupta?
“Very difficult to replace saliva. It helps you in normal swing, it helps you in the reverse swing. Even the drift for the spinners, that part being there it will obviously affect the bowlers. I can’t think of anything else that can replace saliva.
“Ban of saliva is not really going to affect the batsman and the wicketkeepers. It will not affect the skill part of the side for a batsman. We will have to be careful. Saliva has been such an important part of cricket.
The bowlers will definitely find it difficult not to use saliva once they get back into action.