Captain Quinton de Kock has suggested the Proteas will still shine the ball during this month’s ODI series against India, despite the health implications.

Cricketers traditionally use sweat and spit to shine one side of the ball, which generally aids swing through the air. The threat posed by the coronavirus outbreak, however, arguably should deter them from doing this.

There have been 60-plus confirmed cases of the coronavirus in India this month, but none in the three cities for the ODI series – Dharamsala, Lucknow and Kolkata.

READ: What De Kock can learn from Kohli

‘Obviously with the coronavirus, we understand what’s going on. Personal hygiene is a big thing. There’s some fine lines, but we have sat down and it seems like both teams are healthy. We’ve been tested on our way in here, so I think we’ll still shine the ball,’ said De Kock.

‘Our team doctors and management have made sure that we’re all fit and that we don’t have coronavirus. We’ll still attend to that and keep the ball shiny.’

Sri Lanka and England, meanwhile, have agreed not to shake hands during this month’s Test series in Galle and Colombo.

‘With regard to handshakes and that type of stuff, it is a concern. You’ll probably find that we’ll do the same as England,’ Proteas head coach Mark Boucher said earlier this month.

‘It’s just a way to stop anything from happening to the guys. I think it’s also out of respect for the players around you, not to pass on something that you might have.’

Photo: Gallo Images