Cummins accepts risk of using saliva but says cricket need alternate option to shine ball

Australia's premier fast bowler Pat Cummins while accepting the health risk associated with the usage of saliva urged game's custodians will have 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 sread.

"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."
"We've just got to make sure at the start of the spell we're sweating and we're nice and warm."