'You can't use sweat': Mitchell Starc reveals fresh COVID-19 restrictions on ball shining ahead of England tour

Australian speedster Mitchell Starc revealed that there will be "slightly altered guidelines" for the team as they won't be allowed to use even sweat on the ball to shine during England tour.

"There are slightly altered guidelines from what people may have seen from the previous England series here," ESPNcricinfo quoted Starc as saying after Australia had arrived at the Ageas Bowl.

"You can't use sweat from around the face, neck or head and you obviously can't use saliva," he added.

Announcing the interim changes in playing regulations in June, the International Cricket Council (ICC) had banned the use of saliva on the ball due to the concerns regarding the spread of coronavirus.

However, there were no restrictions on the use of sweat and since the resumption of international cricket, the same has been followed.

Starc does not see the restriction as a "huge issue" in white-ball cricket.

"No doubt we'll find out what it's like in the practice games and whether we need to revisit any planning around it. We haven't been able to use sweat or saliva back in Australia so that was pretty simple. Slightly more lenient here with the bowler allowed to use sweat from certain places. It's not a huge issue in white-ball cricket, I don't think," he said.

Australia will play their first intra-squad warm-up match on Friday.

(with ANI inputs)