England captain Joe Root feels the ban on using saliva to shine the ball to combat the COVID-19 threat might improve the skills of the bowlers, who will have to work harder to get something out of the pitch. The Anil Kumble-led ICC cricket committee has recommended banning the use of saliva to shine the ball when play resumes.

The ICC has also barred the practice in its guidelines for resumption of cricket. However, Root said it could "work in our favour and up skill levels." "Not having the assistance that you might normally have means your accuracy has to improve," he was quoted as saying by metro.co.uk. "Guys