Australian cricket legend and former India coach Greg Chappell has on Sunday (June 14) expressed his views on the ongoing debate over the ban on the usage of saliva to the cricket ball, saying he doesn’t think the ICC’s latest move would affect the balance between bat and ball.
Chappell further said the talks of saliva ban favoring the batsmen are just a “bloody storm in a teacup” with many saying that the ban will pose a challenge to the bowlers without saliva in Test cricket.
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The ICC banned the use of the saliva to shine the ball when the game resumes after Coronavirus-forced hiatus in order to avoid the spread of the deadly virus on the field for the players’ and staff’s safety amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the world’s sporting governing body has allowed sweat but many believe it will not be as effective as saliva, while the former Australian captain claimed that the sweat will be the equal of saliva and it will also be very effective when it comes to shining the ball in Test cricket.
Chappell was quoted as saying by Sydney Morning Herald: “If they’re wiping the perspiration from their forehead, there’s sunscreen there. If they’re using saliva, they’ve probably been chewing something, so what’s in that? I don’t know if it’s that big a deal. Perspiration will be the equal of saliva. I don’t see the difference, to be honest.”
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The 71-year-old further said the saliva ban will have a minimal effect on Australia's fast bowlers. He added, “None of them are big swingers of the ball. Starc might get some reverse swing, by and large, it’s the pace and bounce, I don’t think we’ll notice a huge difference, to be honest.”
There were reports that the ball manufacturer Kookaburra has developed wax applicator to polish cricket balls but Chappell feels there would be no need of this at all in the COVID-19 world.
He signed off by saying, “Bowlers are inventive enough. If they can get perspiration on the ball, they’ll get shine, they’ll be able to preserve the ball unless it’s a really hard, abrasive wicket. You’ve only got to keep enough shine on the ball, and perspiration will do that. I think it’s a bloody storm in a teacup myself.”
(With Sydney Morning Herald Inputs)
