Australia opener David Warner gave his point of view on the new rules that the players will have to follow when international cricket resumes after a three-month long hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
David Warner is one of the designated ball-shiners in the Australian team (Reuters Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Players will not be allowed to use saliva to shine the ball but can use their sweat
- ICC has put in place new guidelines ahead of the resumption of international cricket in times of Covid-19
- A team will be allowed to replace a player in Test cricket if he starts showing symptoms of Covid-19
Australia opener David Warner tried to make sense of the new saliva ban in cricket, a new rule which players will have to adhere to when international cricket restarts after the current hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has laid down several new temporary guidelines for players which are going to be in place until the threat of coronavirus subsides or a vaccine for the deadly virus is developed.
The most talked-about change is going to be the ban on saliva for shining the cricket ball, which is going to be tough on the bowlers as this technique has been used in Test cricket ever since the very beginning of the sport.
But this will not be allowed for the time being which is why the decision has evoked mixed response from the players with most saying that the game will shift even more in favour of the batsmen now.
Warner also couldn’t understand why the Anil Kumble-led ICC Cricket Committee recommended the saliva ban when they players will be in contact with the ball anyways during a match.
“We are in a position where it’s new to everyone. If we can’t use saliva on the ball to shine it, we might not be able to ever use saliva again. These parameters are put in health reasons for the players and we have to abide by those laws.
“It’s going to be interesting for sure. Whether or not there is a designated ball shiner, it’s weird. From my point of view if you can’t put saliva on the ball but you can throw it, catch it and throw it back to that person, you have more sweat on your palms than anything so… I’m not educated in that sort of (health) sector but for me it just seems a little bit silly that you can’t use saliva but you have sweaty hands and all that. It’s weird but its good to see them (ICC) putting something in place that can negate the chances of spreading the virus,” Warner said on the second episode of India Today E-Inspiration.
Warner also shed light on the new Covid-substitute rule wherein a team will be allowed to replace a player if he starts showing symptoms of Covid-19 but only in Test cricket.
“I only read about this the other day, some of the things they are putting in place you just have to adhere to. They are trying to alleviate the chances of this spreading and the chances of someone actually contracting it. They have to try something. But in general with the world, there are a lot of grey areas with everything, even here in Australia there’s a lot of grey areas.
“People can do certain things here, gyms and restaurant are open but only with a certain amount of people in there. They are putting the parameters in place and it’s great if we could just adhere by them and do our best to keep those distances at bay,” Warner said.
