Social media has gone into meltdown, savaging Ravi Ashwin for Mankading England’s Jos Buttler in an IPL clash. What absolute rubbish.
Buttler was cheating by jumping the gun out of his crease before Ashwin delivered the ball, and was run out – perfectly legal according to Law 41.16:
Non-striker leaving his/her ground early
If the non-striker is out of his/her ground from the moment the ball comes into play to the moment when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, the bowler is permitted to attempt to run him/her out.Whether the attempt is successful or not, the ball shall not count as one in the over.
If the bowler fails in the attempt to run out the non-striker, the umpire shall call and signal dead-ball as soon as possible.
Crystal clear. Let’s not add more rubbish by saying the dismissal ‘is not in the spirit of the game’.
It’s not in the spirit of the game to jump the gun and cheat either, but that’s lost in the telling.
Nor is it in the spirit of the game for a batsman to know he’s had a faint edge that’s gone through to the keeper and not walk. Then to have the gall to say the umpire is the sole judge of fact, and let him decide when the batsman knows he’s out, and has cheated by staying put.
Or the fielder who dives forward for a catch. They know if the ball has hit the ground first, they hear and feel the thud before the ball is safely in their hands.
That’s when the fielder should instantly indicate to the umpire it was a no-catch. But the cheats leave it to the umpire to make the decision.
There are no degrees of cheating, it is exactly what the word says and means.
Turn the clock back a year and remember the ballistic comments over Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft for ball-tampering against South Africa, and their subsequent bans.
Smith has an added 12 months to serve before he can captain a representative side again, while Warner is banned for life from leadership positions.
Many wanted the trio to be banned for life for bringing the game into disrepute, and shaming Australia to the world.
Australian captain Steve Smith chatting to the umpires. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
As for Buttler’s cheating? He was dismissed but still spat the dummy.
And he doesn’t seem to learn from his mistakes.
Butler was Mankaded five years ago, for England in an ODI, by Sri Lankan Sachithra Senanayake at Birmingham. Only a goose makes the same mistake twice.
By a strange coincidence, the first recipient of a Mankad in Tests was Australian opening batsman Bill Brown, in 1947 by Vinoo Mankad. The Indian had done exactly the same the month before to Brown, in a game against an Australian XI.
But because the first incident was not a Test, it was not reported to such an extent.
The second Test Mankad was another Australian opener, Ian Redpath, by West Indian firebrand Charlie Griffith at Adelaide in 1969. The third was Englishman Derek Randall, by Kiwi Ewen Chatfield, at Christchurch in 1978. The most recent was Pakistani Sikander Bakht by Australian fast bowler Alan Hurst at the WACA in 1979.
All the batsmen were cheating and dismissed perfectly legally. It’s in the book.
But the only punishment they copped was an early return to the shed.
Shane Warne stuck up for his Rajasthan mate Jos Butler after he was Mankaded by Ravi Ashwin. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images for Rajasthan Royals)
So let’s put Mankading into the correct perspective, with the non-striker remaining in his/her crease until the ball is delivered.
Ravi Ashwin stopped Jos Buttler cheating, but the vast amount of subsequent reporting has Ashwin creating the crime?
Utter bollocks and totally out of context.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Watching the footage of both the first instance it was blatantly clear Buttler had walked a full meter out his crease when he was stumped. 2nd time less obvious. If he doesn't address this afraid there will be a 3rd.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
All those taking the “its in the rules, so spirit of the game is irrelevant” line - might want to recall the underarm incident, for which Greg Chappell was pilloried by everyone at the time and ever after. Well, that was within the rules at the time. As for “it’s an unfair advantage, so all bets are off” - dismissing a batsman is an obviously disproportionate response unless they are doing it persistently. That’s why it’s long been accepted you give them a warning first.
Gus O
Roar Rookie
David, you say “Ravi Ashwin stopped Jos Buttler cheating”. Buttler did NOT leave his crease early. How was Buttler cheating? If Buttler deserved it, I have no problem. But that is clearly not what happened.
Gus O
Roar Rookie
Timing is everything with this rule David. If Butler didn’t leave his crease EARLY then it’s: Dead ball. Not out.
Gus O
Roar Rookie
Dead ball. Not out. Read the rule again: “If the non-striker is out of his/her ground from the moment the ball comes into play to the moment when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball”... Butler did not leave his ground until after this, he did not go early... Ashwin deliberately pulled out of his delivery after entering his delivery stride. Dead ball. Not out. Cricket will be a shite game to watch and to play if this is a legit wicket taking option.
Pete
Guest
Can’t believe what I’m reading here. There is no way on earth Buttler is trying to steal ground when Ashwin is bowling. Ashwin deceived Butler - if he had released the ball im not even convinced Buttler would have been out if his ground! I don’t think anyone is disputing the law, but is deceiving the batsmen going to become commonplace? Do we now think this is an acceptable way of dismissing a batsman. What a disgraceful example to kids watching the game.
Tom
Guest
Someone showed the balls prior to the dismissal, and Buttler had left the crease early in all 3. I don't think what Buttler did was cheating as Lord describes, it just put him at risk (correctly so) of being Mankad'ed.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
MCC have had a couple of days to work through it and have come back say it was incorrect decision.
Nathan Absalom
Roar Guru
Well, now the MCC have changed their mind and argued it should have been given not out, as Buttler did not leave his crease before Ashwin was expected to release the ball, and was only out of his ground because Ashwin delayed to take off the bails.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
I'd love to see a Mankad Standoff.
Charles William Osborn
Guest
This is rubbish. Ashwin was in his delivery stride. You are attacking and English barman. Please note Australia’s favoured son is backing Buttler.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Summary: - The MCC believes Buttler was in his ground at the moment Ashwin could have been expected to deliver the ball, although they understand that the umpire may have felt differently - Ashwin deliberately paused to ensure Buttler left his ground before taking the bails off, which is not what the rule is designed for [note: it falls under the heading of 'unfair play'] and was against the spirit of cricket - Buttler was a bit lazy/foolish/inattentive - The MCC seems to disagree with the ICC's preferred interpretation of the rule. A neat quote for the not-outers: "The key moment was when the ball would normally have been delivered, and we think Buttler was just within his ground at that point. It was only then he carried on with his wander out and the release was delayed then the wicket was put down... We think on this particular delivery, Buttler was within his ground until the right moment."
JamesH
Roar Guru
That's an interesting point, Peter. The whole law could have been much better worded. The preferred interpretation seems to be that there is a point in time at which the bowler 'normally would have been expected to release the ball' (had he continued with his delivery) and the batsman can be run out if he leaves his crease before that point. Others are saying that if the bowler never even raises his arm then that point in time never arrives and the batsman can be dismissed if he then leaves his crease. I don't agree with that at all, since it negates the whole concept of what the bowler would 'normally' have been expected to do, but the MCC could easily re-word this rule to avoid any doubt around its interpretation.
Peter Warrington
Guest
I hope Grey is everyone’s favourite shade of black and white.... something here for everyone http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/26374026/ashwin-pause-too-long-not-spirit-cricket-mcc
The Bush
Roar Guru
Agree with these, I was never taught to watch the batsman, only the ball.
Peter Warrington
Guest
Are you replying to the right posts?
Peter Warrington
Guest
Oh, you are awful...
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Well that's sad news
El Loco
Roar Rookie
U, I've explained several times in these mankad threads my basis for expecting a warning.
U
Roar Rookie
Why is it cynical?