Simmons not
fazed by rankings SPIT BAN
In this Nov. 16; 2019; fi le photo; India’s captain Virat Kohli shines the ball during their cricket test match
against Bangladesh in Indore; India. A move to ban the use of saliva to shine a cricket ball because of the
danger of transmitting COVID-19 may force bowlers to relearn or reinvent one of the sport’s most prized
but troublesome skills. Associated Press / Aijaz Rahi, File
Caribbean Life, June 5-11, 2020 31
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By Azad Ali
The aged-old trick to shine a
cricket ball could be a thing of the
past when cricket resumes, with the
International Cricket Council (ICC)
recommending a change to the
sport’s laws in the wake of the controversial
coronavirus virus.
The committee, chaired by former
Indian spinner Anil Kumble, unanimously
agreed to recommend a ban
on saliva although players will still
be allowed to use their own sweat to
try and achieve the fabled ‘reverse
swing.’
Cricketers have long used saliva
and sweat to shine one side of
the ball while allowing the other to
become increasingly scuffed over the
course of an innings.
Continued on Page 32
Cricket West Indies President Ricky
Skerritt. Cricket West Indies
CWI Prez says no
attempt to hide
audit findings
By Azad Ali
Cricket West Indies (CWI) President,
Ricky Skerritt said there was never any
intention of the regional governing body
to “hide” the contents of a recent audit
which it had uncovered “illustrations of
questionable executive standards and
practices.”
In a statement, Skerritt pointed out that
the audit commissioned by his adminis-
Continued on Page 32
By Azad Ali
West Indies has slumped to ninth in
the ICC world Twenty20 rankings, but
is of little concern to Head Coach Phil
Simmons, which he believes can work
to his team’s advantage if the Twenty20
World Cup in Australia comes off in
Australia in October.
Since winning the Twenty20 World
Cup under Simmons four years ago in
India, the regional team has slid down
the rankings and now lie ninth only
above minnows Afghanistan, Ireland
and Zimbabwe.
In fact, the West Indies has won just
15 of their 46 Twenty20 Internationals
since the 2016 World Cup in India.
Simmons said: “I don’t think the
rankings means anything at the end of
the day. I think our squad showed what
Continued on Page 32
Bowlers need new trick to shine ball
/SPORTS