Cricket Australia might use disinfectants on cricket balls to reduce COVID-19 risk

Cricket Australia has announced that it will be seeking permission from the International Cricket Council (ICC) on the usage of disinfectants on cricket balls as the world looks to take proper precautions for bracing themselves in the post-coronavirus pandemic world.

CA’s Sports Science and Sports Medicine Manager Alex Kountouris has said that they have revised some provisions for players as they look to resume training. However, he also informed that competitive cricket will only begin towards the end of this year.

The ICC’s Cricket Committee has proposed that players should not use saliva on the cricket ball once cricket resumes. This is a part of their attempt from stopping the spread of the virus in the post-pandemic world. However, CA has come up with an idea of using disinfectant for the balls. They have advised that it could be a good option to reduce health risks.

‘Disinfecting the ball is absolutely a consideration’: Cricket Australia

“Disinfecting the ball is a consideration,” Koumtoris was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. “We’d have to speak to the ICC and get permission, there’s a lot of things (to consider). And whether it’s effective or not. The ball being leather, it’s harder to disinfect because it’s got little nooks and crevasses. We don’t know how infected the ball is going to get and we don’t know if it’s going to be allowed. But it’s absolutely a consideration. Everything is on the table at the moment, everything is being considered.”

Kountouris also pointed out that other nations like England could resume cricket before Australia does. This would a great opportunity for the Australian to see the results in other countries and then decide on implementing them in Australia.

“From an Australian cricket perspective, other countries are probably going to play before us,” he said. “We’ve got a chance to work with the ICC and other countries to see what they come up with and how it works for them. We’ll obviously take whatever steps we need to do to make sure we lower the risk.”

He also said that he is himself involved in helping the professional Australian cricketers to understand the new regulations on training. He revealed that will take some time to help players quit habits which they have developed over the years. He pointed out that the players will have to use their own ball for training, and not share the pieces of equipment while also ensuring that they properly sanitize them.

“It’s going to be a tough habit to break. Some people are used to licking their fingers before they grab the ball, they’re used to shining the ball. It’s going to be a steep learning curve and hopefully, we’ve got some time to practice that sort of stuff. Yep, there’s going to be mistaken at some point and we haven’t worked out how we’re going to deal with those mistakes and what the outcome will be,” Kountouris added.