Ban on saliva among raft of ICC’s Test rule changes

COVID-19 REPLACEMENTS AND ADDITIONAL DRS REVIEW COME INTO PLAY

The use of saliva, a legitimate tool for fast bowlers in cricket, officially became a nono, while introduction of Covid-19 replacements in Test matches became a reality yesterday. The two were among the interim regulation changes confirmed by the International Cricket Council (ICC) .

The ICC will also allow home umpires in international series because of restrictions to international travel. It approved an additional unsuccessful DRS review for each team in each innings of a match in all formats because ‘‘there may be less-experienced umpires on duty at times.’’

The ICC said it was ratifying recommendations previously made by its chief executives’ committee with the aim of ‘‘mitigating the risks posed by the Covid-19 virus and protecting the safety of players and match officials when cricket resumes.’’

What if a bowler applies saliva to the ball as a reflex action? The umpires will initially be lenient toward teams ‘‘during an initial period of adjustment,’’ the ICC said.

Subsequent instances will lead to a team receiving a warning while repeated use of saliva on the ball will result in a fiverun penalty to the batting side.

Whenever saliva is applied to the ball, the umpires will be instructed to clean the ball before play recommences. Sweat can still be used to polish the ball, however.

The Covid-19 replacements will be allowed in Tests for players displaying symptoms. They must be like-for-like changes, as with a concussion (a batsman for a batsman).

World T20 gets a boost

The changes are not applicable in One Day Internationals or Twenty20 internationals, which are played with white balls.

While all eyes of the cricketing fraternity will be glued to the key ICC Board meeting today, which may take a final call on the fate of the T20 World Cup in Australia, reassuring words of the Australian sports minister may act as a timely shot in the arm for the governing body.

While the ICC had been adopting a wait-and-watch policy over the status of the showpiece, they had deferred any decision on it — along with all other items on the agenda — from their last meeting on May 28 to another round of video conference today.

In an interview with an Indian daily, the Australian sports minister, Richard Colbeck, said he believed that a World Cup Down Under could still be possible with restrictions on spectator numbers.

“We are confident the T20 World Cup will be a thrilling showdown watched by a global audience — but we remain committed to the implementation and support of measures to keep players and spectators safe.”