The topic which is bowling up in cricket is the 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. Cricket Australia (CA) has put into order of no use or saliva and sweat though ICC has still not taken any particular call on this. In this regard, Rajasthan Royals’ pacer Varun Aaron kept his view.
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.
According to Varun, if bowlers will not use saliva, it will be unfair as the batsman will be in the advantage of the situation. He said that the Test matches will become one-sided affair and fast bowlers will not get help.
“100%, that’s a no brainer. More in the Tests than in the T20s or one-dayers because anyways the Kookaburra ball doesn’t do much after the first four or five overs in an ideal scenario.”
“In Test cricket, movement is something that every (fast) bowler heavily relies on to get the batsman out, otherwise there won’t be any difference between white-ball and red-ball cricket,” Aaron said.
I am just hoping it doesn’t happen: Varun Aaron
“I am sure the ICC will figure something to negate the losses (disadvantage) bowlers are going to face if they put the rule in place, but like all bowlers, I am just hoping it doesn’t happen.”
“If it (no saliva or sweat on the ball) has to happen, it will, because it’s something where somebody has to be really careful about,” said Aaron.
Former cricketers Harbhajan Singh and Ashish Nehra were also against the suggestion of using artificial substances to shine the ball. They strictly disagreed to the concept of not using saliva and sweat which are natural substances.