By England all-rounder Ben Stokes was caught applying saliva on the ball during the second ODI against India at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Friday.
On-field umpire Virender Sharma was quick to spot the error and decided to warn Stokes for mistakenly applying saliva on the ball.
The ball had to be sanitized as per protocol and the umpires also informed England stand-in captain Jos Buttler that a similar offence would attract a penalty of five runs for them.
It happened in the fourth over of India’s innings. Reece Topley had just bowled a dot ball when India were 8 for no loss and the ball reached Stokes, who was standing in the slip cordon, who accidentally applied saliva on the ball.
India vs England 2nd ODI live score
Applying saliva was banned ever since cricket resumed after a long break due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
