Kumble admitted the effect of the saliva ban on Test cricket.
India’s spin great and Chairman of the ICC's Cricket Committee, Anil Kumble on Friday (June 12) admitted that ban on the usage of the saliva to shine the cricket ball will affect Test cricket more than other two formats of the game, but said there is still an option to strike balance between bat and ball and that’s the pitches.
The former India captain further insisted that the decision to not allow the use of saliva to shine the ball was purely taken on the medical advice as rubbing spit on the ball could increase the chances of spreading the COVID-19 on the field as the virus is highly transmissible.
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However, the ICC allowed sweat which is not enough to polish the ball and Kumble has suggested that the cricket pitches could be utilized, saying the players can play around with the pitch to keep a balance between the bat and the ball following the saliva-ban in the COVID-19 era.
Kumble told India Today: “It is a medical decision. We need to untrain and train as that's the only option we have. the only that cricket can be played is eliminating saliva as that's the way of spreading the virus. And yes, it is going to take away some element, but we don't know just using the sweat will be enough to keep the shine on. that is one element.”
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He further explained, “The other element which is unique to cricket is the pitch, which not necessarily is an advantage to other sport, you can play around with the pitch to keep a balance between the bat and the ball. This is probably a unique opportunity to keep the spinner in the game. Test cricket is being loved and followed and played because of its unique challenges.”
The leg-spin great signed off by saying, “Our recommendation of banning saliva will affect more in Test cricket, rather than in ODI or T20 because it is a short game and it should not matter there and nobody is actually discussing banning saliva in T20 cricket. T20 could be an easier solution or match to handle, but having said that, if you are looking at a tournament it has its own challenges.”
(With India Today Inputs)