Mankading in cricket has always been a controversial subject, with discussions and debates always about the legality.
A well-known Mankading incident which took place in the presence of Ravichandran Ashwin and Jos Buttler in the 2019 edition of the Indian T20 League sparked off the controversy over the spirit of cricket with a variety of opinions on the validity and manner of the demotion.
With all the hype around the Mankading rule, we examined this Mankading law as well as its history and legality this method of dismissal.
What exactly does Mankading signify in cricket?
Mankad in cricket is a run-out effort performed by the bowler prior to his delivery stride in order to disarm the batter from the side of the non-striker. Following the most recent update in the law the dismissal is known as a run-out from the non-striker’s side.
The history the concept of Mankading dates from 1947, when the Indian team was touring Australia. Vinod Mankad, Indian opener and slow left-arm orthodox bowler is believed for having invented this method of dismissal for the first time in cricket.
In one of his overs after realizing that the non-striker had been often out in his own crease prior to the time where delivery was made, the Mankad paused in the delivery stride and cut the bails off of the side of the non-striker, thereby dismissing Bill Brown during the second Test. This was the beginning of the Mankading time period.
Mankad has come in for some serious criticism in particular in the Australian media for his an unsportsmanlike behavior however the former Australian player Don Bradman couldn’t know what all the fuss was about.
“For the reason that it is beyond me I don’t know the reason. The rules of cricket make evident that the player must stay within his territory until the ball is released,” Don Bradman wrote in his autobiography.
Read more:- Why is “mankading” in cricket considered against the spirit of the game?
Does Mankading legally legal in cricket?
The practice of getting out batters by Mankading is in line with the rules of cricket. In the past, Mankad was considered an illegal practice as per Law 41 of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) who are the people who enforce the laws of cricket.
In accordance with the law that says ‘If you are a non-striker and is out of the way from the time the ball comes into play until the point at which the bowler has been expected to drop the ball and release it, the bowler is allowed to try to knock him or her out. No matter if it is unsuccessful or otherwise, it does not be counted as one ball in the over.’
But, as per most recent changes in the rules of cricket enacted by MCC, the act of Mankading or getting out a player in a position where the batter is out of his own crease to the point of non-striker’s end prior to the ball is delivered will now be regarded as run-out.