Cricket: The Australian arrived in England before his series of white balls in front of the Old Enemy.
Mitchell Starc and his wife Alyssa Healy at the Qantas departure terminal on August 23. PHOTO: Adam Yip Source: News Corp Australia
Sweating on the back can be the ideal solution for Australian players looking to make the white ball of the series opposite England shine after being ordered not to wear anything above the neck.
The International Cricket Council has already banned the use of saliva to hold the balloon during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But it was legal to take sweat from anywhere in the draw and rub it on the ball for foreign matches played in England for the next two months.
However, Australians, now in England preparing for a series of T20 and ODI, were begged to use sweat from the head, face or neck to make the ball shine.
This should have sweating or even under the belt, white ball expert Mitchell Starc said it wouldn’t really be a challenge before the start of the checks series opposite India, which at this level is scheduled for December.
“It would possibly seem a little appealing if bowlers wear sweat on their backs, you can’t use it in your arms either,” Said Starc of England.
“Nothing too applicable in white ball cricket.
“Once this new ball starts rolling, you should try to keep it dry anyway. It’s more of a red-ball cricket.
“There’s no doubt that we’re going to find out what it looks like in those practice games, and if we want to review the plans around that, I’m sure we’ll get back to you before the series starts.”
Just over a week before Australia returns to action! What do you think of that, Zamps? #ENGvAUS pic.twitter.com/as8mOtkVNw
Starc said he had the “new standard” in educating not to wear sweat from his head, and this was also visual in the recent trial of England.
“We haven’t used sweat or saliva in Australia at all,” he said.
“They’re a little more tolerant here because they can wear sweat from certain places.
‘I think we’ve noticed a little bit about this England series (Test), Jofra (Archer) uses a little sweat on his back and that sort of thing.
“If the global remains as it is for a while, those restrictions will be there. Saliva will probably stay much longer anyway.
“It’s something the red ball team has to communicate when we get to this point, but right now we’re pretty good.”
Australian cricketers have been banned from using all sweat and saliva education sessions with their local national groups and will use their four warm-up matches in England this week to adapt more to change.
They have been absorbed into a biosecurity bubble in Derby, but have now moved to Southampton before the first game of the 3-game T20 series on September 5 (AEST) before 3 IDO on 11, 13 and 16 September.