Australian girls’s cricket captain Alyssa Healy made headlines together with her daring and sudden responses throughout a latest episode of the LiSTNR Podcast. When requested concerning the one rule she would change in cricket, Healy jokingly advised scrapping dismissals by catches, an concept that caught even the host abruptly. Nevertheless, what really stirred controversy was her intriguing tackle ball tampering, which led to a dialogue about its presence within the recreation and the ways gamers allegedly use behind the scenes.
“Simply think about batting with out getting caught,” – Alyssa Healy’s rule change suggestion
Throughout the interview, Healy was posed with a easy query: “In case you might change one rule in cricket, what would it not be?,” As a substitute of going for standard grievances like unhealthy mild stoppages or pitch doctoring, Healy responded with a relatively lighthearted but radical suggestion – eliminating dismissals by catches.
“Oh, I simply assume you must scrap getting caught,” Healy stated, laughing. The host, shocked by the concept, responded, “That’s a relatively exhausting one to get via the MCC, I’d have thought,” Healy continued, “No, that may be so—think about for those who simply bat and by no means get caught! That may simply be so cool,”
The host then admitted he anticipated Healy to criticize the sunshine guidelines or floor manipulations, not a elementary change like eradicating catches as a mode of dismissal. Nevertheless, what adopted subsequent really caught the viewers off guard.
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All bets off cricket match?
Healy then made a shocking pivot, mentioning a controversial matter that has haunted Australian cricket prior to now—ball tampering. She advised the concept of permitting a cricket match the place gamers might use any methodology they wished, just like what she known as the Olympics permitting performance-enhancing practices.
“Nicely no, I used to be really genuinely eager about this earlier than. And I’d really like to see like ball tampering within the recreation,” Healy defined.
Sensing the delicate nature of the subject, the host mockingly reminded Healy of Australia’s notorious ‘Sandpaper Gate’ scandal that led to bans on Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft in 2018. The host humorously warned, “Cautious, this might go nicely.”
Acknowledging the controversial path of the dialogue, Healy continued, “I do know the place this might go, however I’d—I’d love, you understand how they did just like the Olympic Video games the place it’s all free-for-all?,”
The host chimed in, reminding her that the Olympics haven’t formally applied such an method but, to which Healy replied, “No, however they’re – so take no matter you need,”
The dialogue then escalated into an amusing hypothetical state of affairs, imagining a cricket match the place gamers might tamper with the ball in any manner they wished – utilizing lengthy fingernails, mints, or different artistic strategies to control its situation.
A darkish artwork in Cricket?
Because the dialog progressed, Healy revealed that ball tampering is an open secret inside the cricketing fraternity, and whereas it’s hardly ever known as out publicly, many gamers know precisely what’s occurring.
“My favourite one which I’ve heard is tremendous glue on wicketkeeping gloves. Somewhat little bit of dried tremendous glue – simply sharp sufficient – so once you catch the ball, you go bang, bang, bang, flip your palms, after which throw it to first slip,” Healy revealed.
The host, clearly entertained however conscious of the implications, responded, “You don’t need to get the mistaken aspect of the ball, do you? Or do you simply tough it up as a lot as doable?,”
Healy doubled down, laughing, “That’s the perfect story I’ve heard! Clearly, I’m not naming names, as a result of they’re nonetheless enjoying worldwide cricket. However unbelievably skillful!,”
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This text was first printed at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Instances firm.