Saliva Ban and Shining the Ball
Also known as: saliva ban, why can't bowlers use saliva, saliva on the ball, shining the ball, polishing the ball with sweat, spit on the ball
Bowlers cannot use saliva because MCC banned it in the Laws from October 2022. It found saliva unhygienic and open to abuse, and data showed sweat polished the ball just as well. Fielders may still shine the ball on their clothing with sweat, but no artificial substance.
Shining one side of the ball helps it swing. Players have always polished it on their trousers. Under Law 41.3, a fielder may polish the ball on their clothing as long as the only natural substance is sweat, no artificial substance is used and no time is wasted.
Saliva was banned in most cricket during COVID-19. MCC then made the ban permanent in its 2022 code. It said saliva was unhygienic and open to abuse, such as eating sweets to change saliva. It also said data from international cricket showed little effect on swing.
Using saliva counts as changing the condition of the ball. Under the Laws, the umpires can replace the ball and award 5 penalty runs. ICC playing conditions also award 5 penalty runs for saliva.
Tips by skill level
Pick one side of the ball to shine and only polish that side, using your trousers and sweat.
Agree as a team who shines the ball. One or two players keeping the shine consistent helps it swing for longer.
Example
A bowler licks his fingers and rubs the ball. The umpire inspects it and, under the competition's rules, awards 5 penalty runs to the batting side.
Why it matters
Shining the ball is part of swing bowling. Knowing what is allowed keeps you from giving away penalty runs.
Common mistakes
- Licking fingers before shining the ball
- Using sunscreen, lip balm or sweets to help the shine
- Wasting time while polishing the ball
- Thinking sweat is also banned
Frequently asked questions
Why can't bowlers use saliva on the ball?
MCC banned it from October 2022 because it is unhygienic and open to abuse. Data also showed sweat works just as well for shine.
Can you still shine the ball with sweat?
Yes. Law 41.3 lets a fielder polish the ball on their clothing using only sweat, with no artificial substance and no time wasted.
Sources
- MCC Laws of Cricket, 2017 Code 4th Edition (2026), Law 41.3.2.1 (polish the ball on clothing; 'the only natural substance used is sweat') and Law 41.3.4 (5 Penalty runs; ball may be replaced), p. 119
- MCC: Law changes for October 2022 (Law 41.3: saliva unhygienic and open to abuse; little impact on swing; sweat equally effective), p. 5
- ICC Men's ODI Playing Conditions (effective Oct 2026), clause 41.3.7 (saliva applied to the ball: 5 Penalty runs), p. 60
Related terms
- Swing BowlingSwing bowling makes a fast-bowled ball curve sideways in the air, toward the batter (inswing) or away (outswing). The angled seam, helped by keeping one side shiny, makes the air flow differently over the two sides of the ball.
- Reverse SwingReverse swing is a phenomenon where an old, asymmetrically worn ball swings in the opposite direction to conventional swing, deceiving batters conditioned to expect conventional movement.
- New BallThe new ball is a freshly manufactured cricket ball at the start of an innings (or available after a set number of overs). This swings and seams most readily due to its hard, lacquered surface and prominent seam.
- Penalty Runs (5-Run Penalty)Umpires award 5 penalty runs for unfair play. The batting side gets them when a fielder fields illegally or fakes a fielding action to fool the batters. They also get them when the ball hits a fielding helmet left on the ground. The fielding side gets 5 runs for some batting offences, such as damaging the pitch.
- Laws of Cricket vs Playing Conditions (Who Makes the Rules)Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) writes the Laws of Cricket and is recognised as their sole authority. Leagues and governing bodies then add their own playing conditions on top. The ICC's playing conditions run international cricket, so Tests, ODIs and T20Is can differ from the Laws in places.
Cricket analysis is in development
Motion Lab does not analyze this sport yet. Keep exploring the terms in this section.