Varun Aaron joined the list of players against the potential ban by the ICC on applying saliva, sweat to maintain the shine on the cricket ball in the post COVID-19 world.
Like many others, the India and Rajasthan Royals (RR) pacer reckons that will further affect the balance of competitiveness between the two main disciplines of the game.
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"100%, that's a no brainer," he said in a video chat with the Times of India. "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."
For Aaron, it must be depressing to have been robbed of the opportunity to play the IPL 2020, as he continues to be out-of-favour for the selectors at the highest level.
"There's nothing much we can do about it, but at the same time I feel everybody is making good use of this time, especially we at the Royals," he said. "We are having constant discussions with coaches, players and kind of staying switched on in case the IPL happens, which I am sure will happen."
Besides following a training regime to keep himself fit amid the lockdown, Aaron is also enjoying playing 'chef' to his family. "I really don't need the lockdown to get me cooking," said the 30-year-old with a smile. "I am cooking anyway. I am the more domesticated one amongst myself and my wife. I am doing the cooking at home and she eats what I cook."
Coming back to the major bone of contention, Aaron urged the game's administrators to try and restore parity between the bat and ball.
"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 cricket and red-ball cricket," he said.
"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."
But if the medical experts deem it among the best possible ways in which cricket can be resumed, it will happen, especially as the game continues to suffer heavy losses during this phase.
"If it (no saliva or sweat on ball) has to happen, it will, because it's something where somebody has to be really careful about," Aaron agreed.
"I feel that sports is going to make a bigger comeback into the world, because people are going to value it that much more now."
"Sport has always been big in all the countries and I think people are starved of it."
(Inputs from TOI)
