Will saliva ban threaten cricket’s kings of swing?

In this July 30, 2015, file photo England captain Alastair Cook polishes the ball during their Ashes Test cricket match against Australia in Birmingham, England. A move to ban the use of saliva to shine a cricket ball because of the danger of transmitting Covid-19 may force bowlers to relearn or reinvent one of the sport's most prized but troublesome skills. [AP Photo/Rui Vieira, File]

An International Cricket Council board meeting on Wednesday could see the global governing body uphold a recommendation to prohibit the use of saliva in order to stop the transmission of the coronavirus.

Bowlers traditionally get the ball to move or swing in the air, thereby making it harder for batsmen to hit, by applying shine to one side via sweat -- which can still be used -- or saliva.