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Melbourne Stars captain Adam Zampa says he would have no issue attempting another Mankad dismissal after sparking controversy during a heated BBL derby loss to the Melbourne Renegades.
Tuesday night’s clash at the MCG reached a flashpoint when Zampa tried to run out Renegades tailender Tom Rogers as the non-striker crept out of his crease.
A video review led to Rogers being given not out because Zampa’s bowling arm had gone past its highest point before the legspinner reached back to knock the bails off.
Rogers had the last laugh, destroying the Stars’ batting order as he snared career-best figures of 5-16 to steer the Renegades to a 33-run win.
Zampa said he “saw red” when he spotted Rogers trying to steal ground. “I was well within my rights to do it,” Zampa said.
(Photo by Darrian Traynor – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
“It’s in the rule book. It’s well within the rules. As you saw, I just got my technique wrong and he was almost halfway down the wicket.”
Cricket’s latest Mankad controversy came less than a week after a tense Boxing Day Test exchange between Mitch Starc and Theunis de Bruyn, when the Australian quick threatened to run out his South African opponent.
It occurred during the final over of the Renegades’ innings as they posted 7-141, having been sent in to bat.
The Stars managed just 9-108 in reply, failing to recover after Rogers tore through the top order.
The right-arm paceman claimed 3-11 in his first two overs as the Renegades reduced their hosts to 4-18 in the fifth. Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman (2-7) also strangled the Stars, bowling 17 dot balls in his four overs.
Rogers said he personally would not attempt to Mankad a batter but insisted he wasn’t fazed by Zampa’s decision.
“I’m a little bit confused by the rule but because it’s been flavour of the month for a little while I was probably staying in my crease for a little bit longer than I have in the past,” Rogers said. “I thought I was going to be ok … but the umpires are doing a good job and luckily it was not out.”
Zampa said he would not have followed through with a Mankad attempt earlier in the innings.
“Tenth over of the game if they’re trying to pinch ground then it’s probably more of a warning,” he said. “So late in the innings with two balls left, even if I Mankad someone and run him out then they’ve still got wickets in hand … so it doesn’t really make that much difference to the game.”
Stars coach David Hussey claimed during a sideline Fox Cricket interview that they would not have forced Rogers to walk if the third umpire had given him out.
“I spoke to Zamps already and he said if it had’ve been given out we would’ve withdrawn our appeal anyway. It’s not the right way to play cricket yet it was more of a warning to the batter not to leave too early because at the end of the innings that’s what generally happens.”
Test fast bowler Mitchell Starc twice warned South African batter Theunis de Bruyn about backing up too far during Australia’s emphatic win at the same venue.
Former Australian paceman Brett Lee on Fox Cricket commentary said it was not in the spirit of the game.
“I think if he goes past the bowling vertical, past where he’s meant to let go of the ball, it’s deemed that you can’t actually Mankad the batsman. I don’t like that rule, I don’t like the Mankad rule whatsoever, they should take it out of their hands.”
Fellow commentator Brad Haddin added: “It’s a bad look for the game.”
Zampa finished with 1-18 from his four overs as the Renegades set the Stars 142 for victory in their BBL derby which proved 32 too many for the run-chase.
Veteran left-hander Shaun Marsh top-scored on one leg. Marsh, who missed the start of the season with a calf strain, injured a hamstring when he slipped running between wickets at the MCG on Tuesday night.
The incident occurred early in his innings and the injury clearly hampered Marsh, who was unable to run anywhere near top speed.
It didn’t stop him playing an important role, posting 32 off 35 deliveries.
Martin Guptill scored 32 off 27, with the pair’s 51-run partnership and a late blast from Mackenzie Harvey (32 not out off 23) helping the Renegades reach 7-141 after they were sent in.
Marsh was eventually out to Stars paceman Trent Boult, lofting a simple catch to Nathan Coulter-Nile at mid-off.
Marsh’s latest setback comes after the Renegades lost captain Nic Maddinson (knee) and experienced batter Peter Handscomb (heat stress) in their previous game.
The result ended the Renegades’ four-match losing skid and balanced their season record at 4-4, but came at a cost when Shaun Marsh injured a hamstring while batting.
Nick Larkin hit an unbeaten 48 off 40 for the Stars, who have slumped to a 2-5 season record.
Kiwi quick Trent Boult (2-23) and English import Luke Wood (2-29) were the Stars’ best bowlers, while Zampa (1-18) also delivered a tight four overs.
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