BCB inform fourth umpire about Glenn Phillips’ saliva incident
Glenn Phillips
|| CF DESK ||
New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips was observed using saliva to shine the ball during the third day of the first Test between Bangladesh and New Zealand in Sylhet. However, he did not face any penalty for this action as Bangladesh missed an extra five-run.
The incident happened just before the second ball of the 34th over of the Bangladesh innings, where Phillips was bowling to Najmul Hossain Shanto, with Mominul Haque at the non-striker's end.
At the post-match press conference, Bangladesh team manager Nafees Iqbal confirmed that he had seen the footage, and had "informed the fourth umpire".
Before delivering the ball, the off-spinner was seen on television applying saliva twice on the ball, which violates Law 41.3 of the game.
Law 41.3 of the game, updated and put into effect on October 1, 2022, says: "When cricket resumed following the onset of Covid-19, playing conditions were written in most forms of the game stating that applying saliva to the ball was no longer permitted. MCC's research found that this had little or no impact on the amount of swing the bowlers were getting. Players were using sweat to polish the ball, and this was equally effective.
"The new Laws will not permit the use of saliva on the ball, which also removes any grey areas of fielders eating sugary sweets to alter their saliva to apply to the ball. Using saliva will be treated the same way as any other unfair methods of changing the condition of the ball."
