West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell has once again been approved by Cricket Australia (CA) to use his black bat in the Big Bash League (BBL) after a clear laminate cover was applied to help protect the ball.
Russell, who plays for Sydney Thunder in the league, used the black bat last week against Sydney Sixers after being given approval by the country's cricket board. However, after the game, CA withdrew its approval after it was discovered that the bat left visible marks on the ball.
Now, the head of the BBL, Anthony Everard confirmed that the CA had granted Russell to resume using his black-coloured bat after he got it laminated by a clear cover to ensure the ball discolouration does not occur again.
"Following feedback from the match offficials that the bat used by Andre in the opening night of the season left black marks on the match ball, Andre has worked with his bat manufacturer to modify the bat," ESPNcricinfo quoted Everard, as saying.
"A clear laminate cover has been applied to the bat, which complies with regulations to ensure the ball discolouration does not occur again. We're now satisfied that the bat will not compromise the integrity of the game by discolouring the match ball and we have granted approval for Andre to use the bat in any future BBL matches," he added.
Earlier, the BBL head had said that any BBL or Women's BBL player, who wishes to use a bat with a different colouring solution that doesn't result in the discolouration of the match ball, would be permitted to do so subject to CA being satisfied that the bat won't compromise the integrity of the game, which according to the board discolouring the match ball does.
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