The World Cricket Committee (WCC) of the MCC has taken a step in their attempt to normalize the ‘Mankad’ or ‘non-strikers being run-out by the bowler’ practice across all age group levels.
The committee, which includes some of cricket’s biggest names, including Kumar Sangakkara, Sourav Ganguly, Justin Langer, and Alastair Cook, as well as chairman Mike Gatting, has urged that this mode of dismissal be accepted as any other, claiming that the bowlers aren’t the villains here and that the batter always has the option to stay inside the crease until the ball is bowled.
After a recent incident in the Big Bash League (BBL) in which Adam Zampa attempted to run out non-striker Tom Rogers, the committee has asked for calm over ‘Mankad’ during their most recent ICC meeting in Dubai last week. The WCC of the MCC, the curators of the game’s laws, has cleared it once and for all, claiming ‘Mankad’ is in the books. It further claimed that the bowler does not need to warn the batsman if he or she is out of the crease before the bowl is delivered and that they can run the batter out in that situation.
“The bowler is not the villain here. Every batter has a choice; to stay in their ground, or risk being given out if they try to steal ground. If they choose the latter, they are the ones who are breaking the law,” said Kumar Sangakkara.
Chairman Mike Gatting, on the other hand, stated that the batters must learn their responsibilities as soon as possible so that they do not repeat such errors.
WCC’s statement clarified whether the batter was correct in his/her attempt to leave the crease in a hurry or otherwise
“Whilst attempts may increase in the short term, we would expect batters to learn their responsibilities under the laws very quickly and drive it out of prominence,” Gatting said.
“Our stance on this is simple – batters must not steal ground if they do not wish to be given out in this manner. Nor should they be expecting to be given a warning if they do. If all non-strikers only left the popping crease once the ball had been released, there would never be the need for such a dismissal again,” the former English batter said.
Meanwhile, the WCC’s statement clarified whether the batter was correct in his/her attempt to leave the crease in a hurry or otherwise, stating that if they do so and are run out, it will be deemed the batsman’s fault rather than the bowler’s.
“The overriding factor is that there is a simple way that all confusion and controversy around this form of dismissal can be eradicated – by non-strikers complying with the law and remaining within their ground until they have seen the ball being released from the bowler’s hand,” the MCC said in a statement.
“Part of the discussion in Dubai touched on the growing narrative for the bowler to be vilified for this type of dismissal. The committee members were unanimous in their view that the batter stealing ground is the one breaking the laws of the game and therefore deserving of recrimination.
“They were also in agreement that there is no precedent to require a bowler to give a warning to a batter, confirming they are completely within their right to dismiss the batter on the first occasion they break the law,” it added.