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With the increasing modernity and technology in the world, things have changed at a rapid pace. Needless to say, the advancement has had an impact on sports among several other spheres. Evolution is also important to maintain the thrill, especially when it comes to sports. At the same time, organizations have also taken severe steps to improve sports like banning certain equipment with immediate effect. In this episode, we take a look at certain sporting gear that were banned in the past.
Cricket - Cricket Aluminium bat
International cricket began in 1877. Since then, along with the changing rules towards modernity in the game of cricket, two new formats were also added (ODI and T20Is). In the meantime, a big change also kept happening with the cricket bat. Cricket is still played with a wooden bat, but in 1979, during a Test match, Australia's fast bowler Dennis Lillee created a sensation in the cricket world. In fact, when Lillee entered the field to bat in the Test match against England in Perth, he had an aluminium bat in his hand, not wood.
The umpire warned him to change his bat because the umpire believed that the ball is getting spoiled after making contact with the bat. Lillee became furious and after a lot of debate on the ground, he threw the bat. In this way, the aluminium bat was seen for the first and last time in the game of cricket. After this, the International Cricket Council (ICC) banned the aluminium bat.
Basketball - Cricket Spring shoes
In the game of basketball, athletes with tall heights usually excel at the top level because it helps them a lot in scoring and defending. Athletic Propulsion Labs (APL) made a special type of shoe in which springs were installed and this shoe appeared to enhance the natural jumping skills of the players. However, this type of shoe would have brought a big revolution in the game of basketball. Even before this, the National Basketball Association (NBA) body banned this APL shoe before the 2010-11 season. After which this shoe was never seen on the basketball court again.
Basketball - Basketball Ninja headbands
The NBA has always been the breeding ground of top basketball players in the world, a league which is played in the U.S. and dominated by American players. The style of all the players also attracts the fans towards them. In 2018, 'Ninja headband' became the fashion of NBA players and almost every player used to play basketball wearing it. The NBA never gave a reason for banning the headband.
Swimming - Racer swimsuit
Speedo company's LZR racer swimsuit revolutionized the sport in the year 2008, especially when America's famous swimmer Michael Phelps wore it during the Summer Games, the attention of all swimmers went towards this swimsuit. About 94 percent of the swimmers who wore it at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games won. While 23 swimmers wearing LZR racer swimsuits at the Beijing Olympics also set a world record.
The specialty of this suit was that during swimming, it reduced the pressure created in the opposite direction in the water and also reduced the air pressure due to which the speed of the swimmer was increased. In 2009, when athletes wearing this swimsuit made 93 world records, FINA got suspicious and investigated this suit and implemented new rules and regulations. In the new rules, the thickness of the swimsuit that the swimmer wears, its size, and its material all came to the fore.
Golf - Polara golf ball
The origins of golf can be traced back to the 15th century and the first 18-hole round golf match was played in Scotland in the year 1764. The golf ball was modified with time and a ball with dimples on its surface was used after the smooth ball to enhance aerodynamic optimization so that he can cover maximum distance in the air in one shot. In the meantime, a Polara golf ball came to the fore which was ultimately banned.
The specialty of the Polara golf ball was that the wind did not affect it so much and it went straight when it was shot. Due to this the challenge was considered to be negligible. In this way, in order to keep the game exciting and challenging, Polara golf ball was banned in the year 1981.
NFL - Stickum
The Nation Football League (NFL) is the most popular sport in the U.S. Around 1980, players used to apply stickum, which is a kind of sticky substance on their body. It was used by Lester Hayes and he used to stick to the players during the game, which helped in snatching the ball. Thus, the NFL immediately banned the substance in 1980. While some players kept using it illegally and one of them, Jerry Rice, said that it is not cheating because everyone is using it. However, now this substance is completely banned.
AFL - Sticky gloves
The Australian Football League (AFL) is one of the most popular sports in Australia. In 2013, the AFL banned a total of six types of gloves, including the sticky gloves used to catch the ball. After a lot of research, it was revealed that these gloves are offering extra assistance to the players while catching the ball. Hence, the gloves were banned. Travis Cloke and Quinten Lynch used them the most.
