Cricket may change swing bowling

[Monty]

At least, that’s the recommendation of the cricket committee of the ICC, according to this article:

A move to ban the use of saliva to shine a cricket ball because of the danger of transmitting COVID-19 may force bowlers to relearn or reinvent one of the sport’s most prized but troublesome skills.

The International Cricket Council’s cricket committee, comprising a roll call of former top players, has recommended on medical advice that spit-polishing the ball should be prohibited while the coronavirus outbreak persists. Unlike baseball, where the spitball has long been illegal, some methods in cricket are a well-established part of the game.

The cricket decision was based on evidence from Dr. Peter Harcourt, the chair of the ICC’s medical advisory committee, who warned of “the elevated risk of the transmission of the virus through saliva”.

More at the link.

I can see new terminology coming into play. The batters will be cheered onto the pitch by their mates with “Don’t let him sweat you”.

[penultima_thule]

Not sure this will have any material effect. Bowlers don’t spit on the ball. A couple of Suth Aafricuns have been rumbled using mints or other chewable but that’s unusual.

Of course, if you want to get a cricket ball to swing, sweat is the best and legal means to get the aerodynamic asymmetry required, if you can’t get your hands on a bottle cap, or lip balm, or sun screen or pomade etc.