Bob Meuleman, the former Western Australian player and selector was pleasantly surprised to learn that Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni used squash ball in his batting gloves during the first one dayer against Sri Lanka in Dambulla last week which his team won by six wickets.
Dhoni made an unbeaten 61 in the match.
“Is it so? I am really surprised to learn this. He should offer me a pint of beer when he next comes to Perth", Meuleman said jokingly. "How many runs did he score in this match then", he asked.
In fact the first player to use this squash ball in his batting glove was former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist who scored a century against Sri Lanka in the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies
"It allows the batsman to get a better grip on his bat. It also allows batsmen to drive the ball perfectly though cut and pull strokes may not be executed properly", said Meuleman.
Gilchrist credited a squash ball stuffed inside his glove after pulverising Sri Lanka's bowlers with his match-winning 149 in the World Cup final.
"I don't know whether any other Australian players are also now using these balls while batting", said Meuleman.
Gilchrist hit 13 fours and eight sixes from just 104 balls and pointed to his glove as he celebrated the fastest hundred in the history of World Cup finals.
Sri Lanka Cricket was in the dark when asked to comment on Dhoni using a squash ball.
"No I am not aware about this but would certainly find out whether we can lodge an official complaint about it", Duleep Mendis, Sri Lanka Cricket the CEO said.
Questions have been raised over the legality of using squash balls in the gloves after Gilchrist.
"It is perfectly legal and nothing in the laws can prevent the batsman doing this. Apparently the addendum to the inside of the gloves was not for protection from injury but to improve the way the batsman gripped the bat handle. This should not be considered unfair," an official of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) the custodians of the game’s rules said.
-Dailymirror
Dhoni made an unbeaten 61 in the match.
“Is it so? I am really surprised to learn this. He should offer me a pint of beer when he next comes to Perth", Meuleman said jokingly. "How many runs did he score in this match then", he asked.
In fact the first player to use this squash ball in his batting glove was former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist who scored a century against Sri Lanka in the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies
"It allows the batsman to get a better grip on his bat. It also allows batsmen to drive the ball perfectly though cut and pull strokes may not be executed properly", said Meuleman.
Gilchrist credited a squash ball stuffed inside his glove after pulverising Sri Lanka's bowlers with his match-winning 149 in the World Cup final.
"I don't know whether any other Australian players are also now using these balls while batting", said Meuleman.
Gilchrist hit 13 fours and eight sixes from just 104 balls and pointed to his glove as he celebrated the fastest hundred in the history of World Cup finals.
Sri Lanka Cricket was in the dark when asked to comment on Dhoni using a squash ball.
"No I am not aware about this but would certainly find out whether we can lodge an official complaint about it", Duleep Mendis, Sri Lanka Cricket the CEO said.
Questions have been raised over the legality of using squash balls in the gloves after Gilchrist.
"It is perfectly legal and nothing in the laws can prevent the batsman doing this. Apparently the addendum to the inside of the gloves was not for protection from injury but to improve the way the batsman gripped the bat handle. This should not be considered unfair," an official of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) the custodians of the game’s rules said.
-Dailymirror
