Ishant Sharma Reckons That The Most Important Thing While Bowling In The Post Covid World Will Be To Refrain From The Use Of Saliva

Ishant Sharma, Indian fast bowling spearhead, has reckoned that the most important thing while bowling in the post-Covid-19 world, is to ensure avoiding the use of saliva on a cricket ball.

Cricket is set to undergo sweeping changes in the post corona world with the International Cricket Council introducing a set of new playing conditions, the most controversial of them being the ban on the use of saliva to shine the ball; a common practice employed by bowlers to generate reverse-swing.

The ICC has also introduced a ruling which says that following the two warnings that will be issued for using saliva on the ball by a player, the opposition team will be awarded five penalty runs.

“I feel that the most important thing will be avoiding the use of saliva on the ball and refraining from shining the ball. We will have to take special precautions for this as we are used to shining the ball, especially the red ball,” Ishant Sharma said on Star Sports show ‘Cricket Connected’

Also Read: Mark Taylor Expresses Concerns Over Saliva Ban; Says It Could Heavily Tilt The Balance In Batsmen’s Favor

‘Competition should be fair and not a batsman dominated game’- Ishant Sharma

There have been a lot of apprehensions, both from former and current cricketers regarding ICC’s decision of banning the use of saliva. While the likes of Wasim Akram have warned such a step will reduce the bowlers to bowling machines, former Australian captain Mark Taylor has expressed concerns over the uneven balance between the bat and the ball.

Commenting on the same, Ishant reckoned that the lack of the usage of saliva and consequently reverse-swing will make it easy for the batsman, asserting that the game should be fair and not batsman dominated.

“If we don’t shine the red ball, it doesn’t swing and if it doesn’t swing then it becomes really easy for the batsman. I think the competition should be fair and not a batsman dominated game.” said the premier fast bowler.

Also Read: Irfan Pathan Calls For The Preparation Of Bowler-Friendly Pitches In The Wake Of The Saliva Ban