The Zing bails have once again come under the spotlight after Indian batter Shreyas Iyer was gifted a massive reprieve during the first Test against Bangladesh in Chattogram on Wednesday.
Late on day one of the series opener at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Tigers seamer Ebadot Hossain got a delivery to stay low and creep under Iyer’s bat, striking the off stump.
The electronic bails lit up, prompting Hossain to start celebrating the dismissal — but there was one problem.
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Neither of the bails had fallen to the turf — one was delicately resting on top of leg stump, while the other had somehow toppled back into the groove.
Replays showed that not only had the ball deviated after striking the wickets, but the off stump had visibly wobbled from side to side.
All Hossain could do was laugh.
Law 29.1 states: “The wicket is broken when at least one bail is completely removed from the top of the stumps, or one or more stumps is removed from the ground.”
It’s the latest in a series of bizarre incidents where the Zing bails have seemingly refused to dislodge.
“Shreyas Iyer was lucky that the bails didn’t fall,” teammate Cheteshwar Pujara said at stumps.
“As a team, we’re lucky that he is on the pitch.”
Iyer, who was on 77 at the time, finished unbeaten on 82 as India went to stumps in a commanding position at 6-278.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, India found themselves in a spot of bother early at 3-48, with both openers and Virat Kohli back in the sheds.
Kohli was trapped on the pads by Bangladesh spinner Taijul Islam for 1, promptly wasting a review before trudging back to the sheds.
The Indian superstar has not scored a Test century since November 2019.
Iyer and Pujara combined for a crucial 149-run stand for the fifth wicket before the latter was bowled by Bangladesh spinner Taijul Islam for 90 in the evening session.
“The way I was batting, and looking at the pitch, it’s not an easy pitch to bat on,” Pujara said.
“So I am really happy with the way I batted today.
“My partnership with Shreyas was very important and also with Rishabh (Pant) once we lost three wickets … we had to build a partnership and put a decent total.”
Islam finished the day with figures of 3/84 from 30 overs, while all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz also snared two crucial wickets.
“I don’t think we are in too much bad position considering the first day of a Test match,” Taijul said at stumps.
“We are in good position. Maybe we could have been in a better position if the catches were taken.”
India has been plagues by injury setbacks, with captain Rohit Sharma ruled out of the first Test due to a finger complaint, while paceman Mohammed Shami and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja also won’t take part in the tour.
The two-Test series forms part of the World Test Championship, in which India is currently sitting fourth having won six of their 12 matches.
Bangladesh, who have never beaten India in a Test match, is coming last with eight defeats from 10 matches.
Day two gets underway on Thursday afternoon at 2.30pm AEDT.
— with AFP
