New Delhi: India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said he will need practice to break the habit of applying saliva to shine the ball, an age-old ploy which faces a potential ban when cricket resumes after the coronavirus shutdown.
The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Cricket Committee recently said players can still use sweat to help shine the ball, but recommended a ban on the use of spit, fearing it could lead to the spread of COVID-19. ‘For me as a bowler, putting saliva on the ball comes naturally. It will take practice to avoid that,’ Ashwin said in an Instagram Live session hosted by his Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Delhi Capitals.
The health crisis has also changed the way players celebrate. Wary players had already begun to replace handshakes and high-fives with fist and elbow bumps when COVID-19 disrupted cricket in March. Ashwin, India’s preferred slow bowler in Test matches, said the new celebrations could be a throwback to the past.
In the 1970s-80s, wicket celebrations meant fielders standing in their respective positions and clapping, said the 33-year-old. ‘Things like high-fives and fist bumps are more recent. So when we all step out to play again, it may take time to get used to certain things. But, we will need to adapt,’ added Chennai-based Ashwin.