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While captain Pat Cummins and fast bowler Mitchell Starc have made it clear that there will be no hesitation in whipping off the bails at the bowler’s end in the future, the question of just how Australian fans will react the first time bowler performs a ‘Mankad’ is a compelling one.
South Africa’s Theunis de Bruyn wandered rather cheekily down the pitch on numerous occasions on day three at the MCG during the Boxing Day Test, just as Starc was entering his delivery stride.
After becoming aware of de Bruyn’s penchant to crib a metre or two of real estate, Starc dressed down the Proteas number three, essentially placing him on notice that the bails would be removed on the next occasion he was caught.
Such an act would be a stunning move and one with origins in India’s 1947/48 tour of Australia, when Vinoo Mankad dismissed Australia’s Bill Brown in the second Test, as the batter left his ground and allowed the left-arm slow bowler time to halt his run-up and break the wicket.
Since that moment, one of cricket’s most controversial, there have been just three further Test applications of what became known as ‘Mankading’, with the most recent being in 1978/79, when Pakistan’s Sikander Bakht was dismissed by Australian quick Alan Hurst in Perth.
Very much a questionable tactic in the eyes of fans, few have had the fortitude to use it, with only around 50 or so Mankads documented across first-class, limited-over and T20 cricket since Brown became the first victim.
However, recently, with quick singles and the maximising of every running opportunity becoming increasingly important in the 20 over-format, the practice appears to be entering the minds of modern-day bowlers more frequently; and it might be for the best.
As the fast bowlers are no-balled, denied wickets and concede runs based on the barest of indiscretions with their front foot, it seems unthinkable to them that the player with the willow in his hand should be entitled to venture from his ground and be significantly down the pitch before the ball has even been struck by the batter on strike.
England star Jos Buttler (2019) and Afghanistan’s Noor Ali Zadran (2020) have been caught out and dismissed at the bowler’s end in recent T20 tournaments; Englishwoman Charlotte Dean recently fell victim to Deepti Sharma at Lords in September in a women’s one-day international; and there have been a number performed in recent under-19 World Cups.
It does appear that the Mankad has crept back into vogue, with the performance of one in an Ashes series at a key moment or during a T20 or ODI final certain to cause much debate and discussion.
Of course, just as Starc chose to do on Thursday, many a player has warned the infringing batter and refused to actually commit to the act, with Ravichandran Ashwin and Courtney Walsh two significant examples.
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What happens when a hot-headed bowler, frustrated by the defiance being shown at the crease, does eventually lose his cool and throw what was once convention out the window is anyone’s guess.
How would Australian fans react to the act in Sydney during the third Test, as South Africa pile on the runs and Pat Cummins removes the bails, leaving, say, Dean Elgar stranded and out in the 90s?
Would boos rain around the SCG, or would fans simply chuckle and heckle the fraudulent batsman as he made his way back to the pavilion?
What of an Ashes Mankad in the UK during the Australian winter, with the result of a crucial Test potentially affected by an action that many still see as unsporting and not deserving the departure of the batter?
Mitchell Starc of Australia speaks to Theunis de Bruyn of South Africa about staying in his crease. (Photo by Darrian Traynor – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
Of course, many will cite the tactic as fair game and feel zero sympathy for players unable to complete the simplest of tasks – remaining in their ground until the ball has been delivered.
The MCC no longer deems the action unfair play, despite the fact that Stuart Broad and fellow English players have been categorical in their refusal to use it.
It is likely that some international cricketers will embrace the Mankad and its new acceptability, whilst others will defer to honour and dignity in their playing of the game.
Crucially, should a difference of approach be apparent in upcoming series, a potential flashpoint will exist. It would take some courage for an Australian Test cricketer to employ the Mankad tactic, and he or she may receive as much criticism as support.
It will be interesting to see who chooses to be the first.