Glenn Phillips Caught Applying Saliva On The Ball, On-Field Umpires Take No Action

New Zealand allrounder Glenn Phillips was seen applying saliva on the ball during the third day of the ongoing first Test against Bangladesh in Sylhet. Last year, the International Cricket Council (ICC) had permanently banned the players from using saliva to shine the ball.

It was first done in 2020 as a preventive measure against the spread of Covid-19 before the governing body of the game decided to make it a permanent rule. The players started using sweat to shine or polish the ball after the ban on saliva. Law 41.3 of the game, updated and put into effect on October 1, 2022, states:

“When cricket resumed following the onset of Covid-19, playing conditions were written in most forms of the game stating that applying saliva to the ball was no longer permitted. MCC’s research found that this had little or no impact on the amount of swing the bowlers were getting. Players were using sweat to polish the ball, and this was equally effective.

“The new Laws will not permit the use of saliva on the ball, which also removes any grey areas of fielders eating sugary sweets to alter their saliva to apply to the ball. Using saliva will be treated the same way as any other unfair methods of changing the condition of the ball.”

Glenn Phillips applies saliva on ball:

As per ESPNcricinfo, Glenn Phillips was shown on TV applying saliva on the ball during Bangladesh’s second innings. The incident took place during the 34th over when the New Zealand star was bowling to Najmul Hossain Shanto. After the first ball of the over, he was seen applying saliva on the ball twice before delivering it.

However, the on-field umpires neither intervened nor took any action against Glenn Phillips. Ahsan Raza and Paul Reiffel were the on-field umpires. According to an ICC spokesperson quoted by ESPNcricinfo, match officials are responsible for dealing with on-field incidents, and the ICC does not provide statements on such matters.

Last year, UAE became the first team to be penalized for the use of saliva. Their player Alishan Sharafu used saliva on the ball during an ODI against Nepal and the latter were awarded five runs.