No saliva to DRS: Cricket will see these key changes in post-Covid-19 world

The ICC cricket committee led by Anil Kumble has recommended some changes in the existing rules for the resumption of cricket in somewhat hygiene condition amid coronavirus pandemic

Cricket is set to do away with one of its oldest practices -- the use of saliva to polish the ball – as International Cricket Council (ICC) is gearing up to resume the operations amid coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
 
The ICC cricket committee led by Anil Kumble has recommended some changes in the existing rules. The recommendation included banning the use of saliva, no neutral umpires and increase the use of Decision Review System (DRS).
 
However, the ICC Cricket Committee saw no health hazard in continuing with the use of sweat. 

The ICC cricket committee comprises of Anil Kumble, Andrew Strauss, Mahela Jayawardene, Rahul Dravid, Tim May, Mickey Arthur, David White, Richard Illingworth, Ranjan Madugalle, John Stephenson, Kyle Coetzer, Shaun Pollock, Belinda Clark, David Kendix, Shashank Manohar, Manu Sawhney and Clive Hitchcock.

 So, how the cricket as we know it is going to be changed in post-Covid-19 world: 
 
Saliva to shine the ball
 
The use of saliva to polish the ball has been a significant method used from early 90s, which help the bowler to reverse swing the ball after it gets old. If ICC accepts the recommendation on use of saliva, then it would be very hard for the bowler to get the swing. This will make the batsman more dominant. But the committee advocated the use of bowler-friendly pitches to balance the gap.


 
Substitue for Saliva
 
The Anil Kumble headed committee, though, allowed the use of sweat to shine.
 
Recently, Australian manufacturer Kookaburra has also said that it will ready a wax applicator as an alternative to saliva and sweat to help bowlers shine cricket balls in the post Covid-19 world.
 
"Kookaburra's research and development centre in Australia has been working on a product to replace the traditional methods of polishing a ball that could be controlled and managed by the match umpire. We have developed a unique wax formula for polishing a cricket ball," Brett Elliott, group managing director of the brand, said on May 5.

 
"The pocket size sponge applicator would enable umpires or players to apply a thin layer of wax which could then be rubbed and polished in a traditional manner to enhance the shine on the ball," Kookaburra’s MD said.
 
‘Use of external substance will lead to ball-tampering’
 
According to cricket website ESPNcricinfo, the cricket committee has discussed the use of artificial substance for shinning the ball. But, it felt that the use of any artificial substance on the ball is termed as ball-tampering under the existing law. The Kumble-led committee felt bending the rule at present would lead to complications.