The Return of Saliva in Cricket

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has made a significant decision to allow bowlers to use saliva to shine the cricket ball, reversing a ban that was imposed during the Covid pandemic five years ago. This move comes after a majority of the tournament’s franchise captains supported the change during a recent meeting.

The temporary saliva ban was introduced in May 2020 on medical advice during the pandemic, with the use of sweat still permitted. The International Cricket Council (ICC) made the ban permanent in September 2022.

The Importance of Saliva in Bowling

Bowlers use saliva and sweat to polish one side of the ball, creating an imbalance that aids swing. This technique has been a key element in cricket’s bowling mechanics for over a century. Saliva is particularly effective in generating reverse swing, where the ball moves in the opposite direction to what is expected. This is crucial in dry conditions or with older balls.

Saliva is more effective in red-ball cricket, typically used in Tests, than in white-ball formats like ODIs and T20s. In red-ball cricket, the ball is used for a longer period, allowing bowlers to shine one side and help generate reverse swing.

Player and Expert Reactions

Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj, who is playing for the Gujarat Titans franchise, welcomed the decision. In a statement to the Press Trust of India news agency, Siraj said,

It’s excellent news for us bowlers because when the ball is not doing anything, applying saliva on the ball will increase the chances of finding some reverse swing.

Siraj further explained,

It sometimes aids reverse swing because scrubbing the ball against the shirt will not help [to get reverse swing]. But using saliva on the ball will help in maintaining [the shine on one side], and it is important.

Another Indian fast bowler, Mohammed Shami, had earlier called on the ICC to lift the ban. After India’s Champions Trophy semi-final win over Australia, he said,

We keep appealing that we should be allowed to use saliva so that we can bring reverse swing back into the game and make it interesting.

Shami’s plea was supported by former international bowlers Vernon Philander and Tim Southee.

Recently, Indian spin great R Ashwin, who recently retired from international cricket, had said that he too was confused by the ban. In a video on his YouTube channel, he said,

ICC released some research papers which said that saliva did not aid reverse swing much and that not putting saliva on the ball has not made a huge difference. I don’t know how they did the research, but saliva should be allowed anyways if it is not a problem.

The Debate Continues

Sports writer Sharda Ugra believes the lifting of the ban on saliva could help make the contest between bat and ball “more even.” However, she adds that it’s not clear how much impact the lifting of the ban will have on bowling.

Ugra told the BBC,

Saliva isn’t the only factor in generating swing – conditions must also be ideal, and a skilled bowler is key.

Some former fast bowlers like India’s Venkatesh Prasad have expressed caution about the change. Prasad told The Times of India newspaper,

The ban on applying saliva was also about maintaining cleanliness. Anything can happen today, we don’t know how many – and when – a new virus enters the air. So, I think you need to be very careful in making a decision about lifting the ban.

Implications for the IPL

The change will come into effect from the start of IPL 2025, with defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) facing Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Eden Gardens. The tournament will feature 74 matches across 13 cities over two months.

FAQ Section

Why was the saliva ban imposed?

The saliva ban was imposed to reduce potential transmission of the Covid infection.

How does saliva help bowlers?

Saliva helps fast bowlers maintain the ball’s shine, creating an imbalance that aids swing, a key element in cricket’s bowling mechanics. It also helps generate reverse swing, where the ball moves in the opposite direction to what is expected.

Will the ICC lift the saliva ban for red-ball cricket?

It remains unclear whether the ICC will lift the saliva ban for red-ball cricket, following the Indian cricket board’s decision to lift it for the IPL.

Did You Know?

The highest IPL total, set in 2013 with RCB’s 263 for five against Pune, was surpassed four times in 2024. In 17 seasons, there have been 10 totals crossing 250 runs.

Pro Tips

For bowlers looking to maximize the use of saliva, it’s important to understand the conditions and the state of the ball. Dry conditions and older balls are ideal for generating reverse swing.

Reader Question

How do you think the lifting of the saliva ban will affect the dynamics of T20 cricket? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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