• Since the International Cricket Council (ICC) permanently outlawed using saliva to shine the red ball in order to stop the spread of COVID-19 on the field
• Bowlers have come up with new ways to polish the ball, even if it means using the sweaty bald head of another player

The Test ball had actually lost its “shine” due to the ban, but English batsman Joe Root had a lightbulb moment and discovered a creative and humorous way to restore it by using sweat from a teammate’s shaved head.

When Root polished the ball on spinner Jack Leach’s head on the third day of the Test match against Pakistan, it became a social media sensation.

“Absolutely ingenious!”

Root finds a unique way of shining the ball with the help of Leach 🤝😅#PAKvENG | #UKSePK pic.twitter.com/mYkmfI0lhK

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) December 3, 2022

This ban had been in effect for more than two years in international cricket as a temporary anti-COVID measure before being made permanent in October 2022.

To prevent the spread of the virus on the field, COVID-19 had put the rule into effect. When cricket returned after a hiatus in July 2020, the regulation went into effect. When saliva was prohibited, the players turned to sweat, which worked well to shine the ball.

After the event on the field, commentator David Gower further clarified the use of perspiration.

Because saliva is no longer permitted, it is totally brilliant. According to tests, sweat shines the ball far more effectively than saliva, according to Gower.

On the third day of the first Test, Pakistan’s openers Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq both scored hundreds against England as a flat Rawalpindi Stadium wicket continued to provide runs.

In response to England’s massive 657, Pakistan began day three with 181 runs without losing; the team needed 458 runs to avoid the follow-on.

With a six and a quick single from Joe Root, Shafique, who had reached 89 overnight, became the first player to reach three figures. Haq, who had begun the session on 90, then did so with a boundary off the same bowler.

Having also hit three figures against Australia in March of this year, they both now have three Test centuries and consecutive hundreds at the location.

Shafique got a century in the second innings, while Haq scored hundreds in both of his innings against Australia.

Ramiz Raja, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, described the Rawalpindi pitch as a remnant from “the dark ages,” and it has received harsh criticism.

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