The fast bowlers tearing off their spikes near the thumbs is not a rare sight. However, recently during the India vs. South Africa first Test at Eden Gardens, Mohammad Siraj's torn shoe caught the attention of the fans. Siraj, who was showered with chants every time he reached the boundaries for fielding, took two of the two wickets of the 10 wickets that fell. However, his shoes got a wide range of attention on social media. What is the reason behind that hole near the thumb? Only 1% people know why Siraj still wore that broken shoe today… pic.twitter.com/PhgSbpQK5X — Bhai with Opinions (@BhushanManmath) November 14, 2025 The secret behind the hole in the shoe The primary reason is to avoid repeated friction between the front foot and the shoe. Often tagged as an "escape room," the fast bowlers purposefully cut the holes to reduce bruising. Normally, during a delivery, the the front foot absorbs, the most of the weight, sometimes nine times of the body weight due to the intensity while releasing the ball. This intense force pushes the foot sharply toward the front of the shoe, causing the big toe to repeatedly jam against the toe box. Over time, this leads to painful bruising, blood clots under the nail, or even the nail breaking off completely. To avoid this trauma, many pacers cut out a small section near the big toe, giving it space to move freely without hitting the shoe’s interior. Additionally, the modification reduces heat and friction inside the shoe, keeping the toe from swelling during long spells. Some bowlers also find that a cut-out shoe allows smoother foot drag across the turf, helping them maintain rhythm and balance at the crease. Read also: Reports: Liam Livingstone Among Four RCB Players Set to Be Released Day 1 summary: Jasprit Bumrah steals the show South Africa won the toss and decided to bat first. However, the team got bundled out for just 159 runs, thanks to Jasprit Bumrah's fifer. Apart from Siraj, Kuldeep yadav took two wickets, one of them featuring a stunning catch from Dhruv Jurel dismissing Temba Bavuma. Axar Patel took one two. Coming to bat, India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal and is having Washington Sundar (6*) and KL Rahul (13*) on the field. India trails by 122 runs.