Rahul Dravid Calls For Challenging Pitches In Play If Sweat Doesn't Work

Former Indian batting great Rahul Dravid has called for extra assistance for bowlers if sweat doesn’t produce the desired outcome for them. The COVID-19 crisis has forced the ICC, which is the apex body of cricket to ban saliva from coming in contact with the ball. It is one of the biggest amendments that would impact cricket once it resumes at an international level.

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Several cricket experts and current pacemen are of the view that the prohibition of saliva will make the game all batsmen-oriented since bowlers can’t get the ball to swing as they desire. Former Pakistan seamer and captain Wasim Akram went on to predict that bowlers will become robots and called for the allowance of artificial substances with restricted amounts.

The ICC has banned spit from using on the ball, but saliva remains in effect. As far as Rahul Dravid is concerned, the upcoming series between England and West Indies will set the tempo. Dravid believes that there would involve plenty of learnings, and it would be observed whether sweat produces the same effect as saliva. If not, the former Indian captain suggested for the pitches to transform into a more challenging one for batsmen.

“The series between England and West Indies is going to be a good test. There will be a lot of learning for everyone. A lot people are saying that in England if you use sweat it has the same effect you have with saliva, so it shouldn’t stop you from shining the ball. I am not sure if they will allow a foreign substance on the ball,” the 45-year-old said as quoted by Hindustan Times.

“I think they will first try it with sweat and if it produces the same effect then you don’t need to do anything. The other thing that can be done is you make the wickets a little more challenging. Whether you make them greener or if they assist more pace and bounce or make tracks that turn a little bit more,” Dravid added.

What you want is a good contest between bat and ball: Rahul Dravid

The 164-Test veteran yearns for a balanced contest between the bat and ball, and if the same can’t be met for the short span of time, the only other alternative is to create some assistance off the pitch for bowlers.

“What you want is a good contest between bat and ball. That is what we are trying to achieve. And if that can’t be achieved for the short span of time then you create tougher wickets to get that and it will be great cricket to watch.” he added.

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