Covid-19 Impact: Cricket Australia To Test Disinfectant On Match Balls

The impact of Covid-19 on sports have opened up new dimensions. After cricket boards have been forced to ban sweat or saliva to polish the ball, Australian manufacturer Kookabura came up with a pocket-size sponge applicator to shine the ball. With safety and health with the foremost concern, Cricket Australia have now planned to test the match balls with disinfectant to reduce the risk while playing this summer.

In Australia competitive cricket is set to return from June 6 with the Darwin & District Cricket Competition season. It will mark the return of cricket in the country after the halt on the sport enforced due to the Covid-19 situation.

According to Cricket Australia, players returning to practice with their state teams have been told not to share their equipment as much as possible as a precautionary measure. The board also mentioned the rules for training may vary from state-to-state.

Alex Kountouris: Matches will commence this summer with precautionary measures

CA’s Sports Science & Sports Medicine Manager Alex Kountouris said he is confident that matches will take place this summer with health and safety as foremost concern. However, he also mentioned that all the matches will take place without crowd.

Kountouris has drawn several measures and guidelines for players as the season is set to resume from next month. According to reports, there has been no decision on this year’s NT Strike League, the T20 tournament in which opener David Warner participated in 2018.

Clubs will be required to complete a COVID-19 Safety Plan assessment and submit it to the Northern Territory Government before they can play, and some details are still being worked out with Cricket Australia, according to a report in cricket board.