Batsman should be given out as soon as the zing bails light up: Aakash Chopra

One of the innovations in the sport is the introduction of zing bails into the picture. These bails light up after coming in contact with the ball and zing bails are now being used predominantly in the modern era. However, for being a bit heavier, these bails often fail to come off the grooves. These bails, at times, do light up but fail to dislodge from the stumps.

Former India international Aakash Chopra, in a Twitter Q&A, dished out his two cents on the issue. According to the cricketer-turned-commentator, the batsman should be ruled out as soon as the bails light up in such a situation.

Chopra gave the example of Jofra Archer’s delivery to MS Dhoni that hit the stumps but failed to dislodge the bails. Chopra went on to say that the batsman should be given out as soon as the bails light up, instead of waiting for them to get dislodged.

“The moment you see the light come on, give him out. Because what is happening now is… these zing bails are very heavy and they don’t come off very easily. In fact, I remember… I think it was a Jofra (Archer) delivery and the bails did not come off completely from the grooves.

And you survive. How can this be the case? It’s just not done. So the moment it lights up, that’s it, you’re out,” Chopra opined in his tweet.

Q: #askaakash Run outs and stumpings are decided when zing bails flash, then shouldn't batsmen be given out when he gets bowled, bails flash but do not fall as seen in recent times.
– @KanishkJohri

A: pic.twitter.com/Vv9EpHVwlJ

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 25, 2020

Aakash Chopra also opened up on the post-coronavirus world

He was asked several questions during the Q&A session and one of those questions was about how different commentary world would be in the post-coronavirus world.

According to Chopra, a lot of things are going to be altered once the COVID-19 pandemic subsides. As commentators share the lip-mic, it won’t be an acceptable practice in the post-COVID-19 world and it would be inevitable for organizers to change that.

Furthermore, Chopra also opined that several restrictions would be levied on the travel and these restrictions should be always adhered to.

“A lot is going to change, in fact, when we talk about commentators. We all share the lip-mic, so that cannot be an acceptable practice after what we are going through.

So that should change. If you don’t have to travel, then don’t travel. Restrictions on travel should always be adhered to. The way we actually have covered the sport has to change, at least till we go the distance, till we have the vaccine,” expressed Chopra.

Q: In the aftermath of Covid-19, do you think commentary and reporting will be done more from in front of television sets? Are press boxes likely to be crowded anymore?#askaakash
– @ovshake42

A: pic.twitter.com/m3iP2jjV0R

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) May 25, 2020