Ball shining post-COVID, Balaji says use trial and error method

Cricket has favoured batsmen since its inception. The genial Balaji told Sportstar, “From a young age, the bowlers are trained to use sweat and saliva on the ball to keep one side polished, shiny and lighter while the other side gradually becomes heavier.” Balaji, among the heroes of India’s historic Test series triumph in Pakistan in 2004, elaborated, “In fact, the entire team ‘works’ on the ball to ‘maintain’ it. And the use of sweat and saliva is mandatory and legal.” The lanky former paceman observed, “For the pacemen to achieve conventional and reverse swing, or seam movement, and even for the spinners to get the ball to drift, the weight of the ball and how one side is maintained is vital.” He added, “Once the ball is looked after, factors such as crosswind, headwind, bowling with the breeze and the cloud cover play a part.” Balaji recalled a fascinating conversation with Pakistani legend Wasim Akram on the subject. “Akram told me once the ball started doing something, the Pakistani pacemen would not even allow the fielders to touch a part of the ball with their palm.” He elaborated, “Akram revealed the palm would be very sweaty and would make one side very heavy, disturbing the delicate balance needed for reverse swing.” Balaji said, “You see, the ball only swings conventionally and reverses for a few overs and at that point, when the sphere reaches that state, you have to leave the ball as it is to inflict maximum damage during those phases.” “The heavy and sweaty palm would alter that delicate balance. How can you say so much tampering is legal and after that it is illegal.” He is unsure about ICC allowing external substances such as vaseline to shine the ball.