Corona set to change sporting habits

Paris, April 6: As the coronavirus brings the international sports calendar to a grinding halt, here are three long-standing habits which could change forever once competition resumes.

USING SALIVA TO SHINE A CRICKET BALL

It’s been a tried and trusted friend to fast bowlers throughout the history of cricket.

But the days of applying saliva to one side of the ball to encourage swing could be over in the aftermath of Covid-19.

“As a bowler I think it would be pretty tough going if we couldn’t shine the ball in a Test match,” said Australia quick Pat Cummins.

“If it’s at that stage and we’re that worried about the spread, I’m not sure we’d be playing sport,” the the tall right-arm pace bowler Cummins added.

PRE-GAME HANDSHAKES IN FOOTBALL

Pre-match handshakes were abandoned in top football leagues just before the sports shutdown. Premier League leaders Liverpool also banned the used of mascots while Southampton warned against players signing autographs and stopped them posing for selfies. Away from football, the NBA urged players to opt for the fist bump rather than the longstanding high-five.

“I ain’t high-fiving nobody for the rest of my life after this,” NBA superstar LeBron James told the “Road Trippin’ Podcast”.

“No more high-fiving. After this corona shit? Wait ‘til you see me and my teammates’ handshakes after this shit.”

US women’s football star Megan Rapinoe says edicts to ban handshakes or even high-fives may be counter-productive anyway. “We’re going to be sweating all over each other all game, so it sort of defeats the purpose of not doing a handshake,” she told the New York Times in March.

TENNIS STARS THROWING

TOWELS ON COURT Tennis players throwing towels, dripping with sweat and blood and probably a tear or two, at ball boys and girls, has often left fans sympathising for the youngsters.

Moves by officials to tackle the issue took on greater urgency in March when the coronavirus was taking a global grip.

Behind closed doors in Miki, ball boys and girls on duty at the Davis Cup tie between Japan and Ecuador wore gloves.

Baskets, meanwhile, were made available for players to deposit their towels. Back in 2018, the ATP introduced towel racks at some events on a trial basis, but not everyone was overjoyed.

“I think having the towel whenever you need it, it’s very helpful. It’s one thing less that you have to think about,” said Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas when he was playing at the NextGen Finals in Milan.

“I think it’s the job of the ball kids to provide towels and balls for the players,” Tsitsipas added.

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