A post-COVID-19 proposal to apply artificial saliva substitutes to polish the cricket ball

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused administrators to issue a major change in the playing regulations of cricket. For hygienic reasons, the historic practice of applying saliva to polish one side of the cricket ball has been banned. Fast bowlers feel that this regulation will limit their ability to swing the cricket ball. Wax-like substances have been suggested as a replacement, but the concern is that they may generate excessively high swing forces, unfairly disadvantaging the batters. Instead, we suggest that artificial polishing substances that more closely resemble the properties of saliva, such as alpha-amylase, and mucin-based and Aloe vera-based saliva substitutes could produce swing forces on the ball that are more in keeping with the traditions of the sport. Wind-tunnel experiments will be necessary to develop suitable artificial polishing agents that bowlers can use at all levels of competition.