21 May,2020 09:03 AM IST | Melbourne | PTI
Pat Cummins
Australia's premier fast bowler Pat Cummins while accepting the health risk associated with the usage of saliva urged game's custodians to come out with an alternate option to strike a balance between bat and ball. Cummins said applying sweat or any external substance like wax on the ball could be an alternate option if usage of saliva is banned. The ICC's Cricket Committee has already recommended a ban on the usage of saliva on the ball due to the risk of COVID-19 spread.
"If we remove saliva, we have to have another option," the 27-year-old pacer was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. "Sweat is not bad, but I think we need something more than that, ideally. Whatever that is, wax or I don't know what. "If that's what that science is telling us, that it's high risk using saliva ... as long as we're keeping other options open, whether that's sweat or something artificial."
Cummins, currently world's no.1 Test bowler, said sweat is a viable option to keep the ball shinning. "We have to be able to shine the ball somehow so I'm glad they've let sweat remain," he said. "We've just got to make sure at the start of the spell we're sweating and we're nice and warm."
Australian sports gear manufacturer Kookaburra had earlier this month claimed that it had developed a wax applicator which can keep the balls shinning without the usage of saliva or sweat.
ALSO READ
Prithvi Shaw: From next Sachin to going unsold in IPL 2025 Mega Auction?
Champions Trophy 2025 | "We need India and Pakistan to play regularly": Younis
Jay Shah calls out PCB’s Champions Trophy tour in PoK, urges ICC to step in
ICC directs PCB to cancel Champions Trophy tour in PoK: Report
Sanjay Bangar's son Aryan shares his gender transition journey in viral video
Cummins, however, hopes that they can return to the usage of saliva in future as it is the best option to shine the ball. "Hopefully we'll get to a stage where saliva is deemed safe. Hopefully, we can go back to that, to how it was," he said.
Catch up on all the latest sports news and updates here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates.
Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
