Indian pacer Mohammed Shami on Tuesday said he can still get reverse swing going even after the proposed ban of use of saliva, provided the...
Indian pacer Mohammed Shami on Tuesday said he can still get reverse swing going even after the proposed ban of use of saliva, provided the shine is properly maintained.
The International Cricket Council is set to implement a ban on the use of saliva to shine the ball due to the risk attached to the spread of Covid-19.
“There will be difficulties,” Shami said in an Instagram chat with Rohit Juglan.
“We have been accustomed to using saliva since childhood. It’s deeply ingrained ... If you are a fast bowler, instinctively you apply saliva to shine the ball. But yes, if you can maintain the shine of the dry ball, it will definitely reverse.”
The ICC Cricket Committee headed by Anil Kumble, however, has said players can use sweat to polish the ball. Shami thinks that will not help a fast bowler.
“Sweat and saliva work differently. I don’t think it [sweat] will help. I never tried bowling without saliva. Now because of Covid-19 pandemic, it’s very important to stop using saliva,” said Shami.
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Shami said his teammates have missed the presence of former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on and off the field.
“I played in all the formats under him barring...
