Non-usage of saliva on balls will be hard to implement, feels Brett Lee

Former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee believes that the ban on the use of saliva to shine the ball is a "great initiative" by the International Cricket Council (ICC) amid the coronavirus pandemic. However, the Australian was quick to add that it will be "hard to implement" because players have done this whole life across the globe. "When you have done something your whole life from 8,9, 10 years of age where you lick your fingers and you put on the ball, it's very hard to change that overnight too," Brett Lee said on Star Sports' show Cricket Connected.

"I think there's going to be a couple of occasions, or there's going to be some leniency I think from the ICC, where there may be warnings. It's a great initiative. It's going to be very hard to implement I think because cricketers have done this for their whole life," he added.

South Africa captain Faf du Plessis agreed with Lee, citing examples of himself and former Australia batsman Ricky Ponting at the time of fielding.