The use of saliva by players to polish the ball has been a long-standing practice in cricket and nothing in the laws of cricket, regarding altering the ball, says you cannot use saliva. However, thanks to COVID-19 pandemic, one of the first concerns in the sport was the use of the same and how would players stop or alter a habit deeply ingrained in their muscle memory. A possibility of using external substances, mutually agreed upon and under the on-field umpires' supervision, was mooted to shine the red ball to aid conventional and reverse swing.
The issue, reportedly, was discussed during the recently-concluded ICC Chief Executives' Committee meeting via video conference, and is likely to be discussed further in the ICC's Cricket Committee and the MCC's World Cricket Committee in coming months, much before competitive cricket finally gets the green signal.
But, it has not found much favour with former cricketers in India. They feel that it would go against the spirit and laws of cricket and tantamount to legalisation of ball-tampering. Also, any change in the law of the game would also mean one is rushing into resumption of the sport.
ALSO READ: Against any change in World Test Championship: BCCI tells ICC
Former India captain Bishan Singh Bedi outrightly rejected the idea of any external substance being allowed to shine the ball. "No. I do not agree with this idea. Why should we look at a feasible option at all? I was always against the use of saliva on a ball. It's simply very unhygienic," said the spin legend to THE WEEK.
Bedi recalled Indian spinners using sweat off the brows or rolling the ball during his playing days to take some sheen off the ball. "In our times, the lacquer on the ball was really thick, not like now. One would roll the ball in the ground; we were a spin dominated attack then, it was the need of the hour. The intention was never to alter the condition of the ball ever. Having said that, any external substance to be allowed by ICC on the ball is undesirable in my view."
He recounts his county cricket stint with Northamptonshire. Bedi said he would keep one side of ball shining for his arm ball. “I used to just shine it on my trousers without use of any substance like spit or sweat; that is all. You need the ball nice and dry to grip the ball as a spinner. Right is right if no one is doing it, and wrong is wrong even if everyone does it," he said about proponents of reverse swing and doosra.
Leather moisturiser, wax or shoe polish are some such external substances, as is the sandpaper, but the latter is obviously a no-no for ICC and the rest of the cricketing world, given the sandpaper gate that rocked the cricket world in 2018.
Former India all-rounder and chief selector Madan Lal, too, gave thumbs-down to the idea. "They (ICC) should not allow use of external substances. To some extent, see if sweat can be applied but rolling the ball too does not sound possible because then it would come in the realms of intentionally doing so to alter condition of the ball," he told THE WEEK. Taking a dig at those who used substances to alter shape of the ball and get wickets, he said, “One wonders how many wickets they would have taken without doing so?
"One needs to wait for a vaccine or medicine for coronavirus for cricket to start again and not make any drastic rule changes. As for use of sweat or even spit, it depends on individuals. I am confident, in this day and age, we will find a cure to deal with this virus soon. There will be many changes to normal life, cricket and how it's played, will see some too, but only time will tell."
Madan Lal said that he would not be surprised if, initially, players wear masks to the ground or while entering and exiting their team hotels and stadia.
Former India pacer Ajt Agarkar opted for a more cautious approach to the issue, given that no one knows how the COVID-19 pandemic will pan out. Speaking to THE WEEK, the Mumbaikar said, "I would wait a bit more before forming an opinion on this issue. We don't know when cricket will be back and it seems unlikely until a vaccine or cure is found. If this (use of external substances on ball) is allowed, then it would amount to allowing what was not allowed till now."
Describing the use of saliva by bowlers to shine the ball as "second nature", it would, according to him, "be difficult to stop the bowlers from doing so as its muscle memory". However, he is all for lateral thinking, too, but felt any change would be made only after much thought.
He discounted the option of rolling the ball, as damp grounds or dew would make it heavier and soggy. “I am not convinced yet (by the argument against use of saliva). It would mean we are not ready to play the game yet, right?"
Even the use of masks on the ground by players post resumption of cricket would mean "one is obviously rushing to start the game”.
“At the end of the day, it's a decision for the doctors to make, as to when the time is right to play again."
