The increasing trend of un-lit bails fails has raised a question on whether it is time to completely remove bails from professional cricket matches. The Zing bails and stumps with lights have added to the confusion and inconsistency, and some people believe it might be better to remove the bails altogether.
Club cricketers often deal with issues related to setting up the bails and stumps, especially in windy conditions. Spring-loaded stumps with Zing lights are one possible alternative to the current setup.
During a recent match, Alex Carey was not able to get a dismissal due to varying levels of force needed to dislodge the bails. A similar bizarre situation occurred during a club match where the middle stump was knocked back, but the bails stayed in place, resulting in the batter being declared not out.
At the elite level, the introduction of Zing bails has caused challenges and controversy. The Zing bails tend to light up even after being disturbed, creating inconsistency in decisions. There were calls to reintroduce wooden bails to remove this inconsistency and provide a more balanced advantage to both batters and bowlers.
Considering the various issues surrounding the use of bails and stumps, it may be time for the cricket community to consider alternative solutions that will bring more consistency and accuracy to the game.