Coronavirus has taught the world the importance of basic cleanliness which was till-date ignored by the people. As a precautionary measure for COVID-19, Australia will not allow the use of saliva or sweat to shine the ball once the cricket resumes in the post-COVID-19 world under coronavirus safety Guidelines.
There is speculation going around that the use of saliva to shine the ball will be completely stopped to cut down the risk of the highly contagious infection with reports indicating that ICC is considering the possibility of allowing the use of artificial substances to polish the red ball under the supervision of umpires.
As a precautionary measure, the Australian Institute of Sport in consultation with medical experts, sporting bodies and federal and state government has come up with guidelines restricting the use of saliva and sweat to shine the ball.
The framework which has listed down a stage-wise return to play has three stages- level A, level B, and Level C. Currently the ongoing restrictions on sports are categorized as being at “Level A” which restricts all training activities except that of the individual type.
But after little time, almost more than a week from now the restrictions will be moved to level B which will allow the following game plan: “Net- batters facing bowlers. Limit bowlers per net. Fielding sessions that are unrestricted, no warm-up drills involving unnecessary person to person contact. No shining cricket ball with saliva or sweat during training sessions”.
The third level “level C” is to be permitted later in this year which is outlined as: “Full training and competition, no ball shining with sweat or saliva in the training”. “The approach to training should more focus on ‘get in’, train then get out approach minimizing unnecessary contact with players in changing rooms, bathrooms, and communal areas. Prior to resumption of sports, all the sporting organizations should have a list of agreed protocols in place for the management of illness among the athletes and other personnel”, the framework listed.
“Individuals should not at all return to sports if in the last few days they have been ill or had contact with a known suspected case of COVID-19. Any individuals who have respiratory problem systems even if mild should be considered a potential case and must immediately self-isolate himself have COVID-19 excluded and be medically cleared by a doctor to return back to the training”. Athletes who are returning to the sport after COVID-19 infection will require special consideration prior to the resumption of high-intensity physical activity”.
The Australian Institute of Sport in consultation with medical experts, sporting bodies and federal and state government has come up with these guidelines in order to start the sporting events with full safety to avoid further risk of coronavirus in the post-COVID-19 world.
