ZCZC
BSP-11
CRICKET-WC-2019-BAILS
ICC won’t change bails after World Cup wicket problems
LONDON, June 11, 2019 (BSSS/AFP) – The International Cricket Council have
ignored pleas from World Cup stars to resolve the bail controversy that
threatens to spoil the tournament.
India captain Virat Kohli and Australia skipper Aaron Finch joined forces
to condemn the “unfair” problem on Sunday.
Australia’s David Warner avoided being bowled early in his side’s
unsuccessful run-chase against India when he deflected Jasprit Bumrah’s
delivery onto the wicket via his boot.
Not for the first time in this tournament, the ball struck the stumps but
failed to dislodge the bails, meaning Warner earned an unexpected reprieve.
It was the fifth incident in the tournament of the ‘zing’ bails, which
contain lights that flash when the ball hits the wicket, failing to come off
when hit.
But despite calls for a change to the bails from Kohli, Finch and former
England captains Michael Vaughan and Nasser Hussain, tournament organisers
have no plans to make a switch back to the traditional wooden style.
“We wouldn’t change anything mid-event as it would compromise the
integrity of the event – the equipment is the same for all 10 teams across
all 48 games,” the International Cricket Council, the sport’s’s global
governing body, told Sky Sports in a statement on Tuesday.
“The stumps have not changed in the last four years. They have been used
in all ICC events since the 2015 Men’s Cricket World Cup and in a range of
domestic events.
“This means they’ve been used in more than 1000 games — this is a
statistical anomaly.
“This issue has always been part of the game, with the accepted concept
being that it requires some force to disturb a batsman’s ‘castle’.”
BSS/AFP/BZC/1850HRS