Babar Azam Follows Virat Kohli's Footsteps; Switches Bails In PAK vs SA Boxing Day Test

Babar Azam and Virat Kohli [Source: @CricCrazyJohns, @7Cricket/x]

Babar Azam tried his luck by changing the bails during Pakistan’s series-opening first Test match against hosts South Africa at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. The legendary Pakistani batter followed the ongoing trend in Test cricket, recently attempted by Mohammed Siraj, Virat Kohli and rising Australian star Sam Konstas.

Babar was spotted changing the bails on Day 2 of the Centurion Test at a time when the South Africans were closing in on Pakistan’s first innings total of 211.

Babar Azam switches bails on Day 2

Pakistan batting icon Babar Azam continued the trend of fielders trying their luck with switching the bails in Test cricket. The 30-year-old tried his hand at the humorous attempt on Day 2 of Pakistan’s Centurion Test against South Africa.

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Quite recently, Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj attempted the same a couple of times during India’s ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Test series. Back during the third Test of the series at The Gabba, the Indian speedster changed the bails in a bid to distract Australia’s unbeaten and well-set batter Marnus Labuschagne.

Siraj’s teammate Virat Kohli also swapped the bails during the pink-ball affair at the Adelaide Oval earlier in December. Unfortunately, in Kohli’s case, the trick did not yield any wickets for the visiting Indian team, and they went on to face a 10-wicket drubbing ‘Down Under’.

The idea was originally inspired from former England fast bowler Stuart Broad, who constantly followed the ‘bail change’ superstition during his playing days.

Nonetheless, despite Babar Azam’s replication of the popular trend, South Africa attained full control over Pakistan by Day 2 of the Centurion Test. After fast bowlers Dane Paterson and Corbin Bosch skittled out the Pakistani line-up for just 211, Proteas opener Aiden Markram took his team past the 150-run mark with ease by scoring a cunning half-century.

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