Two Warwickshire club cricketers took a hands-on approach to overcoming the sport’s coronavirus concerns ahead of the cricket restart.
Konig UK’s Heath and Ryan Parnell, who are also stalwarts of Bedworth CC, developed K-Touch+ an innovative new hand-hygiene product which tackles government fears regarding the transfer of viruses on a cricket ball.
Boris Johnson blamed the delay in relaunching a socially-distanced version of the sport on this specific concern, and perhaps influenced by cricketers’ traditional use of saliva to clean and shine, the PM described the ball as “a natural vector of disease.”
Heath Parnell who is Konig UK MD, said the company responded by rapidly developing K-Touch+ which gives users up to six hours protection against infection.
“When we understood the issues facing our sport, we shifted our product development focus from materials that touch-up and repair furniture and window frames to tackling the problem,” he said.
“K-Touch+ is a non-alcohol-based product which gives up to six hours protection.
“It soaks into skin pores to create an environment destructive to micro-organisms – including the likes of coronavirus, influenza, norovirus, or Ebola.
“Even if the ball becomes infected anyone touching it is then not at risk”
He added: “These are unique times, which seem likely to drive radical change in many aspects of life, including sport, so we believe in time that K-Touch+ has a part to play at all levels of the game.
“It works in any walk of life, not just cricket, as it protects against infection on a door handle, shopping trolley or worktop.”
Following discussions with medical experts at English cricket’s governing body ECB, the England team trialled K-Touch+ during practice for the ‘bio-secure’ West Indies test series.
Feedback was positive and the ECB advised Konig UK it would trial the product during the first test match, subject to ICC approval.
It has also been the subject of a detailed discussion on Talk Sport, where former England stars Darren Gough and Paul Nixon, who now coaches Leicestershire, were very supportive.
Nixon’s county was the first professional club to use K-Touch+ and he has given the product a ringing endorsement.
“Konig UK’s products are making Leicestershire County Cricket Club much safer – in particular Touch+ brings great protection for up to six hours, which is a full day’s play,” he said.
