Tim Southee and Vernon Philander showed their support for Mohammed Shami, who appealed to the ICC to revoke the ban on using saliva to shine the ball. Mohammed Shami has urged the ICC to rescind the ban on using saliva to shine the ball, in a bid to bring the art of reverse swing back into play.
Star India pacer Mohammed Shami’s plea to ICC to revert their decision on allowing the use of saliva has found new support, as stalwart pacers such as SA’s Vernon Philander and NZ’s Tim Southee have backed the Indian Mohammed Shami’s appeal. The use of saliva was a common means for pacers across the world to keep the shine intact on one half of the old ball, helping in reverse swing.
India fast bowler Mohammed Shami found support from former New Zealand and South Africa pacers Tim Southee and Vernon Philander over his demands for the ICC to revoke the ban on using saliva to shine the ball.
ICC banned usage of saliva on the ball after Covid -19 pandemic
The ban on using saliva to polish the ball was first put into place in May 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, as a temporary measure. Then, in September 2022, the ICC made the ban permanent. The ban on saliva, first put in place in May 2020 temporarily during the Covid-19 pandemic, was made permanent in September 2022. Fast bowlers use saliva to shine one side of the ball, which helps it to assist reverse swing, but after the ban on saliva, it has become considerably difficult for bowlers to prepare the ball conducive to reverse swing.
“We are trying [to get reverse swing], but the usage of saliva on the ball is not allowed,” Mohammed Shami told reporters after India’s four-wicket win over Australia in the Champions Trophy semi-final.
“We keep appealing that we should be allowed to use saliva so that we can bring reverse swing back into the game and it becomes interesting.”
Mohammed Shami has urged the ICC to reconsider their decision now. Mohammed Shami has also got the backing of two former international bowlers in Vernon Philander and Tim Southee, who feel reverse swing is definitely missing in the game, especially on batter-friendly surfaces.
Mohammed Shami finds support from Tim Southee and Vernon Philander over complaint against ICC on use of saliva
New Zealand great Southee, who retired from international cricket recently, said something needs to be done in favour of the bowlers to stop the batting side from scoring big scores in white-ball cricket. Southee’s comments came after New Zealand put 362 for 6 on the board in the second semi-final of the Champions Trophy against South Africa
“That was a rule brought around Covid with the virus going around the world, but I think as a bowler, you want to have a slight advantage,” Southee said on ESPNCricinfo’s Match Day.
“We see the game going the way it’s going and seeing sides score 362 and more often than not over 300 in this format. I think there needs to be something in the bowlers’ favour, and whether that’s a little bit of saliva, then yeah, I don’t see why they couldn’t afford to get that back in.”
Southee felt that the use of saliva to polish one side of the ball and induce reverse swing makes even more of a difference in red-ball cricket than in white-ball.
“I think the ball only swings initially for a few overs [in white-ball cricket]. But with the red ball, you are able to bring it back and obviously sweat can be limited at times in various parts of the world, whereas saliva you’re able to obviously have access to it from a number of sources and in all parts of the world,” he said. “I think there is an advantage to having saliva on the ball, probably more so in red-ball cricket than white-ball cricket.”
Saliva plays a huge part in preparing the ball for reverse swing opined Vernon Philander. Philander felt that the use of saliva and reverse swing could have come in handy for South Africa in the Champions Trophy semi-final against New Zealand, particularly in the later half of the innings. New Zealand amassed 362 for 6 in their 50 overs.
Saliva plays a huge part in preparing the ball for reverse- Vernon Philander
Vernon Philander said that on placid batting pitches, the ball gets scuffed up easily. If saliva is brought back, then the fielding sides can use it to maintain the shine on one side of the ball.
“If we look at the state of that ball, I mean towards the back end, it was really scuffed up, and I think had you used the saliva [to polish one side of the ball], the element of the reverse swing might have come into play,” Philander said.
“So it certainly does play a part. You can get it to shine up and you use the elements to swing it a little longer.
“I’d like to see that element being brought back into the game because I think it’s needed as well. I mean, especially in ODI cricket where we see batters really dominating, especially when you play on surfaces like we’ve just seen in Pakistan as well where it’s really batter friendly.”
“I think the ball only swings initially for a few overs [in white-ball cricket]. But with the red ball, you are able to bring it back and obviously, sweat can be limited at times in various parts of the world, whereas saliva, you’re able to obviously have access to it from a number of sources and in all parts of the world,” he said.
“I think there is an advantage to having saliva on the ball, probably more so in red-ball cricket than white-ball cricket.”
India will now face New Zealand in the finals of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and both the teams will strive their level best to have their hands on the coveted trophy come 9th March 2025.