India vs Eng 2nd ODI: England’s all-rounder Ben Stokes was warned by the umpire’s for putting saliva on the ball during the second one-dayer between India and England on Friday.
As per the regulations introduced in the wake of COVID pandemic, use of saliva is forbidden. The umpires also informed England captain Jos Buttler that another such violation would lead to a fine of five runs.
The incident occurred during the fourth over of India’s innings that was being bowled by Reece Topley. Stokes, fielding at his usual position of slip, got the ball and applied saliva on it.
Umpire Virender Sharma caught sight of Stokes’ act and called over Buttler, who is also the wicketkeeper, to bring the issue to his notice and inform him of the repercussions of the act.
This was most likely a brain fade moment for the dynamic all-rounder. The practice of shining the ball with sweat or saliva is very common and only came to be halted due to the danger of COVID-19.
Stokes, though, remained in the slips and took the catch of Shikhar Dhawan when the latter edged a delivery from Topley. He was also brought into bowl a little later in the innings.