Why are we still having a discussion about the morality of the Mankad?
In the most recent incident, Sri Lankan off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake dismissed Englishman Jos Buttler in the 5th and decisive game at Edgbaston.
Buttler had received two warnings in Senanayake’s previous over for leaving his crease before the Sri Lankan had bowled the ball, yet he still cried foul upon his dismissal.
Despite the Mankad being an entirely lawful dismissal, England captain Alastair Cook lambasted his opposing captain Angelo Matthews’ refusal to recall Buttler by describing it as “a pretty poor act”. But this is what Cook, a batsman, would be expected to say.
Cook argued that Buttler “was half a yard out of his crease”. However, would he be so lax if he was dismissed by a bowler whose foot overstepped by half a yard?
If his opponents argued that a ball bouncing half a yard inside the rope cannot be judged a six, would Cook’s home fans boo them off the ground? Would he happily walk after being given out lbw to a ball that only pitched half a yard outside leg stump?
Increasingly, the batsmen have a significant advantage over the bowlers. Bigger bats, over limits for bowlers and frequent use of video technology on no-balls contribute to an unbalanced duel between batsman and bowler. In Twenty20s, conceding a run every ball has become a decent effort.
At the SCG in 1947, Vinoo Mankad dismissed Australian non-striker Bill Brown following a warning and similar dismissal in a previous non-Test match. Brown was without a helmet or a modern day bat and playing on a pitch left uncovered overnight. It could be argued he was hard done by, given he and his fellow batsmen were disadvantaged against the quicker bowlers.
Yet in the Sydney Morning Herald the following day, journalist and former NSW player Ginty Lush criticised Brown’s “foolish” actions.
“Mankad can scarcely be called a bad sport for trapping Brown… Brown was foolish to take liberties with Mankad,” he said.
The Mankad dismissal was recognised as the batsman’s error, rather than a bowler taking advantage of an innocent mistake. The batsman bit off more that he could chew and he was rightly punished.
At Lord’s on Sunday, Matthews avoided conflict when he chose to warn, rather than dismiss Buttler for his early leaving of the crease. Buttler went on to score a match-winning century and the series went to a 5th game in Edgbaston.
Buttler went too far as the Edgbaston game reached its climax, and he was punished accordingly. Matthews and Senanayake have been punished unjustly, even though most pundits say it was a fair game.
If batsmen are to be kept in line in an age of fast-paced and flashy cricket, we all need to banish the stigma of the Mankad.
Nuwinr
Guest
In cricket if the bowlers front foot is out of his crease when he is bowling its a no bowl he dosent get another chance to reball it. So why should the batter get a warning. Some people say that they should of let buttler have a chance because he wasn't charging halfway down the wicket. But when your bowling it doesn't matter how far out of the crease you are its still a no ball.
Albert
Guest
Like no Aussie has ever cheated ever or bleated about being hard done to. I've never known an Aussie admit that they have been beaten fair an square...especially by the hated Poms. Oh and by the way before you start to have a go at me for being one eyed Pom...I think Butler only had himself to blame and deserved to be run out, but to carry on like the Aussies are some kind of saints, never cheat, never whinge and always take it on the chin etc is frankly ridiculous. You've never stopped whinging about Bodyline and that was nearly 90 years ago ! Cracking goal by Cahill by the way!
LukeC
Roar Rookie
The key movement in the delivery is the arm not the leg/foot. Therefore, until Senanayake moved his bowling arm in the regular bowling movement (i.e. over his ear), he was in the clear. This is to prevent the bowler holding onto the ball and instead releasing it backwards into the stumps. This was a legal dismissal
Santos
Guest
Because you are deemed to have entered your delivery stride once your back foot is planted. Your delivery stride is your "front foot" - which is in the air until you deliver the ball.
jameswm
Guest
Even if the rules said that, how is your back foot your delivery stride? Maybe if your name was Max Walker or Lance Cairns I guess...
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Playing conditions for interntional matches are different. This is from the standard limited overs international playing conditions (http://icc-live.s3.amazonaws.com/cms/media/about_docs/524ac4ae08b48-04%20Standard%20ODI_2013_19%2009%2013.pdf): Law 42.15 – Bowler attempting to run out non-striker before delivery Law 42.15 shall be replaced by the following: The bowler is permitted, before releasing the ball and provided he has not completed his usual delivery swing, to attempt to run out the non-striker. Whether the attempt is successful or not, the ball shall not count as one of the over. If the bowler fails in an attempt to run out the non-striker, the umpire shall call and signal dead ball as soon possible.
Santos
Guest
I suggest that you have a look at the footage again. I believe that Sachithra Senanayake had entered his "delivery stride" (meaning that his back-foot was planted) before he knocked-off the bails. Perhaps the rules have changed, but you should not be able to "mankad" a batsman after planting your back-foot! This is an umpiring error, not bad sportsmanship.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
Cook give yourself an uppercut! That goes for everyone supporting Cooks whine. Don't want to be run out then stay in your crease.
Pravin
Guest
If it is against the spirit of cricket to "mankad" then all batsman should just stay out of their crease which would be against the spirit on their part. I think that Buttler's dismissal was acceptable
Cadfael
Roar Guru
The batsman was cheating. End of story.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Ha ha ha ha England! But seriously, he was warned and he did it again - geez what more can the umpires and bowler do... I personally never understood why it was outside the spirit of the game.
Simoc
Guest
The Poms are so used to cheating ie carrying sand in their pocket, using jellybeans to shine the ball , and still squeal like the soft rabbits they currently are, when caught out. Buttler was stupidly cheating, such a dumb thing to do after being warned. And they lost yet another series.
LukeC
Roar Rookie
I'm sure that made Mankad feel well supported, given the Don's standing in the game. Of interest, Bradman kept that SMH article in his scrapbook (which has since been published online)
Mango Jack
Guest
One hand, one bounce?
ed
Guest
How typically British to create rules, apply them to everyone else but not to themselves. And now many years after the decline of their double standard Empire, they have the temerity to cry about their loss of privilege. Well done Mankad, good on you Sena. They played it according to the laws of the game and all that Cook the Sook (well said Axle) has done is made his team look ridiculous with his whining. I hope the Lankies stick it to the Poms and give them a proper hiding.
Axle an the guru
Guest
If a batsman uses his hand to stop the ball rolling into his stumps after he has played a defensive shot instead of his bat or his leg, be given not out as well??? I dont think so. This is typical whinging pommy attertude. Buttler was out,thats all there is to it. Cook the Sook,should just get on with fixing his side. BTW if Pietersen had to put up with this type of captain,any wonder they had trouble. The ECB have sacked the wrong bloke.
ShmaxShmillas
Roar Rookie
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
Bob Sims
Guest
Spot on, Chop. Put simply, Buttler was cheating, was warned, was caught out again and was justly and appropriately punished by his dismissal. Cook and Buttler have no leg to stand on. Cook is a good batsman but a poor captain and a poor manager of people. This latest issue casts him in a poor light yet again. Good on the Lankans for having the guts to follow through!
Chop
Roar Guru
The only 'pretty poor act' was the batsman being so far out of his ground at least twice. Those two batsmen ran 22 2's and you'd have to assume that at least some were due to them taking a headstart. I have no problem with it at all.
Adam Julian
Roar Guru
Batsman who charge halfway down the wicket before the ball is bowled deserve to be run out. Vinoo Mankad was a legend of Indian cricket.