It seems that a new trend has been sweeping through the world of cricket. Started first by Stuart Broad, this switching bails by superstition has given a mode in which India and Australia have already indulged during the current Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25. Now it seems the Pakistan stalwart, Babar Azam, along with becoming popular with the idea, switched bails during his first Test against South Africa at Centurion.
Pakistan was looking to restrict South Africa from a low total after scoring 211 as Babar performed his own superstition bail-switch.
Banter between India pacer Mohammed Siraj and Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne has seen the bail-switching ritual take place back and forth within Border Gavaskar Trophy.
It also brought good luck for India because wickets fell in quick succession and almost immediately after the bail switching during the series.
After the first innings, South Africa led Pakistan by 90 runs at the end after they finished at 301 in reply to Pakistan’s 211. At one stage, South Africa stood at 213/8, but that was where debutant Corbin Bosch batting at No. 9 changed matters with an 81 off 93 balls.
Mitchell Starc also did the same on Day 3 of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Having gone wicketless, Starc tried the bail-switching ritual.
This Pakistan-South Africa encounter is expected to bring along the crucial tie for a spot in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final, which South Africa can secure by winning the series.
This qualification would leave India and Australia on their own battling it out for the remaining berth, leaving a significant dent in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.