The new ICC protocols governing the use of saliva on a cricket ball had to be implemented on the fourth morning of the second test, following an involuntary violation by Dom Sibley shortly before lunch at Emirates Old Trafford.
With Dom Bess at the top of his mark, preparing to launch the penultimate of the session, the referees on the field, Michael Gough and Richard Illingworth teamed up to examine the ball after Sibley himself admitted the accidental use of saliva to polish the ball.
Referee Gough pulled a sanitizing wipe from his pocket and rubbed the shiny side of the ball before returning it to Bess, who had claimed the only wicket that fell in the morning session when the West Indies went to lunch on 118-2, following England for 351 runs.
According to the ICC-revised game conditions for this series, which is played in a biosecure environment due to the Covid-19 pandemic, only sweat can be used to make the ball shine. Saliva is considered a possible carrier of the virus, so all players have been forced to retrain their ingrained instincts, honed over many years of fielding.
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In recognition of the unusual circumstances, the officials have been encouraged to show initial indulgence if they notice a team applying saliva to the ball, after which they will issue two official warnings before docking the offending team for five runs.
Meanwhile, Jofra Archer, whose unauthorized visit to her Brighton home made her miss the second test, as she spends five days in isolation, was allowed to leave her room to exercise before the start of the fourth day, after the West Indies. The camp approved a request from the ECB.
Just after 7 a.m. on Sunday, long before any other player began preparing for the game of the day, Archer was able to run out into the yard. He wore gloves and a mask with the ECB medical staff monitoring from a safe distance.
Later on Sunday, he is expected to play on the networks under equally strict conditions. Adopting the same protocols used when England bowlers first returned to training, Archer will use allocated balls for his use only and must retrieve them after each delivery. Once again, your sessions will be supervised by staff in the back room at a safe distance.
Archer was fined around £ 15,000 and received a written warning after making an unauthorized trip to his Brighton home between games at the Ageas Bowl and the Emirates Old Trafford. He was also asked to complete a five-day isolation period during which he will have two tests for Covid-19. Subject to test results, he is expected to rejoin the full team on Tuesday.
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