XtraTime Web Desk: England batsman Dom Sibley on Sunday admitted to accidentally applying saliva on the ball during the fourth day of the ongoing second test match against West Indies at Old Trafford. Sibley’s teammates brought the incident to the notice of the on field umpire Michael Gough, who immediately sanitized the ball.
Under the new rules of the International Cricket Council (ICC) application of saliva on the ball is banned. The new rule states, “Players will not be permitted to use saliva to shine the ball. If a player does apply saliva to the ball, the umpires will manage the situation with some leniency during an initial period of adjustment for the players, but subsequent instances will result in the team receiving a warning.
“A team can be issued up to two warnings per innings but repeated use of saliva on the ball will result in a 5-run penalty to the batting side. Whenever saliva is applied to the ball, the umpires will be instructed to clean the ball before play recommences,”
As such England were penalized 5 runs.
The England opener had earlier scored a brilliant hundred (120) and was involved in a 260 runs partnership for the fourth wicket with Ben Stokes who also scored a cautious 176.