Umpires disinfect ball after England's Sibley uses saliva

The ICC's new guidelines were put into practice after England's Dom Sibley inadvertently used saliva on the ball, prompting the on-field umpires to disinfect the red cherry during the second Test against West Indies.

This is the first time that umpires intervened for sanitising the ball during an international cricket match since the new Covid-19 guidelines were announced by the ICC.

The on-field umpire Michael Gough was seen rubbing a tissue on both sides of the ball to disinfect it.

The home team brought the matter to the notice of the umpires as soon as Sibley himself admitted to accidentally using saliva on the ball.

According to the new rules, the bowling team will get a warning if saliva is used either inadvertently or deliberately to shine the ball. The team will be handed a five-run penalty after two warnings.