Mohammed Shami has returned strong from injury and has been key in India’s Champions Trophy run. His five-wicket haul against Australia in the semi-final, where he claimed three wickets and helped India restrict Australia to 264, laid the groundwork for the eventual four-wicket win. This was India’s highest-ever successful run chase in the Champions Trophy, as well as their biggest win over Australia in an ICC knockout match.
The Saliva Ban Concern
Shami, at the same time, expressed his concern about the ICC’s (International Cricket Council’s) ban on shining the cricket ball with saliva. Banning the use of saliva happened during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many bowlers since then denouncing the rule for hindering their ability to produce reverse swing. Shami further emphasized that although sweat acts as an alternative, saliva is simply better when it comes to getting reverse swing. He has been advocating for the ICC to review this rule as he believes it is important for bowlers to have the necessary tools to deliver their best.
Shami’s performance in the tournament has been remarkable, as he began with a five-wicket haul against Bangladesh. It was a period of concern when he had come under the weather briefly in the match against Pakistan. However, since then, he has just been concentrating on getting his form back and playing a critical role for his team. His commitment and work ethic have shown themselves throughout training and practice as he works hard to hone his skill and refine his craft.
How the ban on saliva affects reverse swing
The impact of the saliva ban on reverse swing is particularly significant in one-day internationals (ODIs), where a late swing can change the entire course of the match. One of the major advantages of reverse swing is that it allows the bowlers to exert pressure on the batsmen at the top of the order so that they cannot score freely. However, this late swing is hard to come by without saliva, which can affect the game’s balance.
The Indian head coach, Gautam Gambhir, held Shami in high regard and commended his work ethic in the game. It is down to Shami’s insatiable appetite to train differently. Gambhir proceeded to appreciate the way Shami has the ability to bowl in pressure situations and accepted the challenge to bowl in other conditions.
Takeaways from Shami’s appeal to the ICC to lift the saliva ban
With the dynamics of cricket ever-changing, it will not be surprising if the issue of the saliva ban continues to create murmurs around for quite some time. Safety continues to be a major concern but most players and coaches feel there needs to be a happy medium between protocols and how the game flows naturally. Shami’s appeal to the ICC to lift the saliva ban echoed the sentiment shared by many bowlers.
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Source:
- https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/mohammed-shami-appeal-icc-saliva-ban-lift-reverse-swing-odi-9869640/
