Last Updated:
Mitchell Starc of Delhi Capitals claims saliva on white balls in IPL doesn’t aid swing, calling it a ‘myth’. He defended nine runs in the final over to help DC win a super-over.
Mitchell Starc (Picture Credit: AP)
Delhi Capitals (DC)’s Mitchell Starc thinks that the resumption of the use of saliva on white balls in the IPL has not helped fast bowlers get more conventional or reverse swing. The left-arm quick called it a ‘myth’ and said saliva ‘can’ make a difference on the red ball, which is used in Test matches, but not the white ball.
Starc was speaking after helping DC seal a super-over win against the Rajasthan Royals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday. He got his plans and execution spot-on to defend nine runs in the final over before keeping the visitors down to just 10 runs in the first innings of the super-over, despite bowling a no-ball.
Before the match began, his teammate Mohit Sharma had said that saliva usage — which was halted since the COVID-19 pandemic — made a ‘significant’ difference because teams could shine the ball better. Others like Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj had also backed the claim.
“I don’t use it,” Starc said in Delhi. “I think it’s a myth. Some people think they swear by it. I don’t know what the difference is with sweat and saliva. I don’t reckon it makes a difference. It can make a difference on the red ball. I don’t reckon it makes a difference on the white ball,” he added.
Starc was also honest about his bowling, saying that he was ‘surprised’ when RR decided to send in left-handers Shimron Hetmyer and then Yashasvi Jaiswal to take strike against him.
“Just backed my execution, running in with a clear plan. Sometimes it comes off; a bit of luck goes a long way. It was a fantastic game, happy to get on the right side. I’ve played long enough for everyone to know what I’d do, but if I execute, then I know I’ll get by. A bit of luck goes a long way. (On RR’s choice of batters for the Super Over) It was a bit of a surprise to see left-handers come in with my angle as the ball was tailing back in. Got one wrong there with the side line no-ball, but we had the batting depth then to chase that down,” he said.
