The ‘zing’ bails have become the centre of attention in the 2019 World Cup with Australia opener David Warner the latest batsman to benefit from the stubborn bails refusing to budge despite contact with the stumps.

The heavier than usual bails – that light up along with the stumps when disturbed – are ending up denying bowlers legitimate dismissals as their weight, combined with the deep grooves they sit in, means batsmen are not getting out despite the ball hitting the woodwork.

WHAT HAPPENED

Warner was the latest beneficiary of the heavy bails as he chopped India pacer Jasprit Bumrah on to his leg stump but the bails didn’t fall in the second over of Australia’s chase.

The Aussie opener became the fifth batsman in the ongoing World Cup to get lucky like that. Quinton de Kock should have been bowled by England spinner Adil Rashid, Sri Lanka batsman Dimuth Karunaratne to Kiwi Trent Boult, Windies opener Chris Gayle to Aussie pacer Mitchell Starc and Bangladesh batsman Mohammad Saifuddin to England’s Ben Stokes. But in all instances, the bail didn’t budge.

WHY IT IS IMPORTANT

Four genuine fast bowlers hitting the woodwork with decent velocity and not managing to dislodge the bails is a serious concern for all teams and the ICC. You can imagine the scenes in, say, the final where a batsman is ‘bowled’ but the bails don’t budge and he goes on to score a title-winning ton.

What is also an issue is that not only do the bowlers don’t get a wicket, runs scored off such balls are added to the score. Talk about adding insult to injury.

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