Babar Azam has joined a growing trend of cricketers attempting to alter fortunes on the field by switching Bails which Mohammed Siraj has adopted during the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.
During the first test of the Pakistan tour of South Africa 2024, Babar Azam caught on to the trend, doing a bail switch trend playfully on day 02 at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.
The trend began with England’s former pacer Stuart Broad has become a humorous yet intriguing element of test cricket. Broad’s quirky superstition involved flipping the bails in the hope of breaking a partnership or changing the momentum of the game.
Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj was seen engaged in adopting the trend during the third test at The Gabba.
Siraj switched the bails while Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne was looking settled at the Crease. He followed the trend in the 4th test against and in the very next over Jasprit Bumrah got the wicket of Usman Khawaja.
Babar Azam followed suit as South Africa moved closer to Pakistan’s mode first innings total of 211. With the Proteas in control, the batter flipped the bails in an attempt to change his team’s fortunes.
South Africa dominated the opening two days of the match, courtesy of Dane Paterson’s five-wicket haul and debutant Corbin Bosch picking four wickets. Despite a 51-run knock from Kamran Ghulam, Pakistan’s batting line faltered. Aiden Markram capitalised on the conditions, crafting a fluent half-century to help his team surpass the 150-run mark with ease.
While the bail-switching trend may and may not have a proven impact on results, it highlights the lighter side of the intensely competitive test arena.
For Babar Azam, it was a playful nod to an emerging cricketing ritual. As the trend gains attention, it continues to showcase the human side of the game, reminding fans and players alike that cricket is not just about numbers but also has superstition moments.
South Africa won the match by two wickets and became the first team to the WTC finals next year in June. The second match of the South Africa-Pakistan tests will begin on January 03 at Newlands Cricket Ground.
