Frequent Bails Switch Incident to face ICC regulations? What is going to happen
After the recent increase in bail switch incidents, a rising voice has advocated restricting this trick during matches and demanding ICC rules and regulations regarding bail and other cricketing equipment during matches.
After the re-emergence of the bail-switching incidents in the Border Gavaskar trophy, the trick has spread to other matches worldwide. Mohammed Siraj used the playful trick in the last test match and again in the boxing day test. What worse happened to Australia is that after both incidents, the team lost the wicket in the next over, and both did it when Labuschagne was on the crease. In the last test match, Labuschagne got out in the next over after the incident, while yesterday, Usman Khwaja got out after the incident.
Mohammad Siraj changing bails and he said to Labuschagne "Marnus, Look at that". 😀
- And Jasprit Bumrah gets Khawaja in the Next over..!!!!
pic.twitter.com/8t21NlXx0o
After getting frustrated by the repeated bail switch moments, Australian players tried this during India’s Innings; debutant Sam Konstas switched the bail on the last ball of day 2 when Ravindra Jadeja was on the crease. On the other side of the world, in South Africa, Pakistan captain Babar Azam also played the same trick during South Africa's batting.
Babar Azam flipping bails to get wickets. pic.twitter.com/eHJDbU0Ipp
Historical context
England’s Stuart Broad first used this playful trick, and after that, Virat Kohli also did it in Centurion during India's tour of South Africa.
Are ICC rules incoming?
While there is currently no rule regarding the fielders' ability to switch the bails, but, after repeated incidents, teams might ask the ICC to intervene in this matter. If the ICC made the rules regarding this issue, as per our understanding, the rules might include the following:
Time limits between over-change activities
Restriction on non-essential activity with cricketing equipment on the pitch.
Guidelines on what the acceptable psychological tricks are.
After the incident, when Labuschagne got out, Australia's legend Matthew Hayden commented on the incident.
“He saw 55 deliveries and had no go forward whatsoever. Even that little exchange, if it was me at the crease and a bowler does that. I could not care less. I'm not even looking at the bowler. I'm not acknowledging what he's doing one bit. He's nowhere near my space. I probably would have told him to get out of my space before he even got to the bails,"