A new phenomenon seems to have taken the cricketing world by storm. Once started Stuart Broadthe act of changing pledges as a form of superstition to change one’s luck has become a tactic now being used by both India and Australia during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25. Now it seems Pakistan is a stalwart Babar Azam caught the trend by taking bail during the first Test between Pakistan and South Africa at the Centurion.
Yesterday Mohammed Siraj and today Babar Azam
The trend of changing bails continues in Test cricket.#INDvsAUS #AUSVIND #PAKvsSA #BabarAzam #Siraj pic.twitter.com/9JViNzZqRF
— SIEDA NUR (@3_bukhari) December 27, 2024
After scoring 211 with the bat, Pakistan were also keen to restrict South Africa to a low total. It was then that Babar made his own pledge as a superstition.
Banter between Indian pacers at Border-Gavaskar Trophy Mohammed Siraj and Australian dough Marnus Labuschagne saw the ritual of changing the pledge repeated back and forth.
This also brought luck to India, with wickets falling during the series almost immediately after bail.
South Africa scored 301 in response to Pakistan’s 211, eventually taking a 90-run lead. At one stage South Africa were 213/8 but debutant Corbin Bose, batting at number 9, scored 81 off 93 balls to help South Africa take the lead.
On the third day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy tournament, Mitchell Stark also did the same. After not getting a wicket, Starc tried the bail exchange ritual.
However, it didn’t work out for Starc as he ended up bowling 25 overs without a wicket.
Coming back to Pakistan vs South Africa, the latter’s place in the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) final is on the line. If South Africa win the series, they will earn a place in the final.
Their qualification will have a big impact on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as it will leave India and Australia fighting for the other spot.
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