Holy cow! Aussie cricketers oppose use of leather in cricket balls

“The cricket ball is made out of leather but that is out of our control, you make do with it,” Kane Richardson, who plays for the Royals Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, told the Sunday Mail in an interview.

Last month, former Australian international Jason Gillespie, who is currently the coach of the Yorkshire Country Cricket Club, came out and spoke against the leather, dairy, and meat industries, and asked for a ban on leather balls—much to the ire of the club's main sponsors, Wensleydale Creamery.

Kane Richardson has backed Gillespie on his stance saying, “It was interesting to hear what he came out and said. Dizzy is quite big on it and I had a few conversations with him about it.

“If it is something you believe in you stand up strong for it. He is definitely passionate the way he is with cricket as well.”

Despite his vegan diet, Richardson is working with team doctors and nutritionists to make sure that he does not miss out on anything that is required for him to sustain his health.

“A lot of people joked last year I was slowing down in pace but I was bowling with a back injury.

“I definitely feel lighter and energetic and Peter Siddle found he recovered quicker. If that is a benefit I will take it.

“I have spoken to our team doctor and nutritionist so they are well aware of what you can miss out on by not eating and side effects.

“We are trying to tick every box to make sure I am doing the right thing,” Richardson added.

However, Richardson is not too keen on preaching or enforcing his beliefs to others. He said, “I don’t want to be preacher, come across as preaching to teammates or public. I keep my thoughts to myself unless people want to come and talk about it.”