Saliva allowed, and 2 balls in second innings to counter dew

Finally, the bowlers have something to look forward to in the IPL as two changes have been enforced in their favour. Firstly, they can salivate, literally, as the ban on usage of saliva on the ball, enforced due to covid pandemic, has been revoked.
The second is a more drastic and fresh change in the game — two balls will be allowed in the second innings of night games to counter the dew factor. After the 11th over of the chase, the ball can be replaced with a scruffed-yet-dry one at the umpire’s discretion. The fielding team can appeal to the umpire too for change of the ball, but it will be upto the umpires to assess the conditions and either agree or disagree.
When India went out of the 2016 T20 world cup in the semi final against West Indies, their captain MS Dhoni laid the blame squarely on the dew factor in the second innings. “A bad toss to lose. So, when they started batting the first few overs were fine, but after that there was a considerable amount of dew which meant the spinners couldn’t bowl how they would have liked to,” Dhoni had said then.
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“Henceforth, umpires have given the power to use two different balls in the second innings. The umpire can use a second ball after the 11th over and it will be up to him whether to allow use of the second ball after looking at the conditions. The team can request the umpire to change the ball if they feel dew is playing spoilsport,” The Indian Express has learnt.
It’s learnt that a majority of IPL captains — and one assumes the coaches rather — desired both changes.
“The captains were asked for suggestions and the lifting of the saliva ban was one among them. There was no opposition and it was unanimously agreed to do away with it. This was the BCCI’s domestic tournament and so we are not bound ICC’s guidelines here,” a BCCI official informed.
Earlier this month Indian pacer Mohammad Shami had appealed to the ICC to lift the ban. Since 2011, two balls have been used per innings in ODIs. This means that balls are not as scuffed up as they used to be. Add to this the prohibition on using saliva, generating reverse swing has gotten much more difficult. “We are trying to reverse, but you are not getting the use of saliva into the game,” Shami told reporters in Dubai.Story continues below this ad
It remains to be seen whether the usage of saliva has a real effect in a T20 game but for sure the other rule change about two balls in the chase is going to affect the game strongly.
Both spinners and seamers struggle with the wet ball and the game often has become drastically different under lights. Cue Dhoni’s lament about spinners’ struggle due to dew in that T20 semi-final.
“As the dew comes in it becomes difficult for the spinners to turn the ball. The seam gets wet and the surface becomes a bit greasy so it comes onto the bat nicely. I feel we have seen that our spinners do struggle,” Dhoni had said.
Ashwin gave away 20 runs in two overs, while Jadeja’s four overs cost 48 runs – and West Indies won.Story continues below this ad
The seamers too struggle with the dew, in gripping the ball. Dale Steyn had once talked about the difficulties and fear that he might end up bowling a beamer instead of a yorker.
“Also, for the safety of the sport. You are going to be running in and looking to bowl yorkers. There’s a chance that the ball can slip out of your hand. When I played a game for RCB, I actually asked the umpire: “Please, can we change this ball? This is a crucial time of the game and I feel like I’m going to bowl a wa-high full toss.” He opted not to. I had to bowl the back-of-a-length ball … The commentators might go, ‘Why did that guy bowl a back-of-a-length slower ball as opposed to running in and bowling a yorker when we know that, as an example, [Kieron] Pollard’s not good at [facing] a yorker?’That really is because you are scared that the outcome is not going to be what you want it to be.”