One of the most controversial aspects of the game of cricket is a way of dismissal, Mankading. It has evoked a lot of contrasting emotions from fans around the world and we are no closer to resolving the issue around it despite years of Mankading being a part of the cricketing lexicon (and rule book).
In this piece we look at every aspect of the Mankading and delve deeper into why it’s so controversial.
Mankading in Cricket: Unraveling Controversy, History and Perspectives
Cricket, a sport deeply rooted in tradition, has its fair share of controversial moments, and few are as divisive as the act of Mankading.
Named after Indian cricketer Vinoo Mankad, this mode of dismissal involves a bowler running out the non-striker at the non-striker’s end before delivering the ball.
As ingrained as it is in the laws of cricket, Mankading continues to be a subject of spirited debates, with opinions divided on its fairness and sportsmanship. Which, to some like this author, is surprising given the law around Mankading is as clear as it is for bowled, caught, lbw or any other legitimate form of a dismissal.
While it is not as rare as the Timed Out dismissal, Mankading’s not very common either with the last such incident in Test match cricket having happened in 1978-79.
In more recent times, with the advent of T20 cricket, instances of Mankaded dismissals or attempts to do so have brought the discussion around Mankading back on to the table.
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Understanding Mankading
Mankading, though controversial, is a legitimate form of dismissal as per the Laws of Cricket. It’s a strategic move by the bowler to prevent the non-striker from gaining an advantage in backing up too far.
Here’s what the Mankading law says:
If the non-striker is out of his/her ground at any time from the moment the ball comes into play until the instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, the non-striker is liable to be Run out. In these circumstances, the non-striker will be out Run out if he/she is out of his/her ground when his/her wicket is put down by the bowler throwing the ball at the stumps or by the bowler’s hand holding the ball, whether or not the ball is subsequently delivered.
According to the current Law, Mankading is NOT against the spirit of the game. In fact, in 2022, the ICC removed this law from the Unfair Play section of their law-book to the Run-out section which was another implication that Mankading was no different from a run-out.
Historical Roots
The first recorded instance of Mankading at the international level took place in 1947 when Vinoo Mankad himself ran out Australia’s Bill Brown during a Test match. This incident set the stage for a cricketing debate that has endured for decades.
However, at the first-class level, it was Thomas Barker who ran George Baigent out in a county game way back in 1835. What’s interesting to note is that Barker was involved in the first five ‘Mankaded’ run-outs in the history of cricket.
Incidents in International Cricket
Notable instances of Mankading include Kapil Dev dismissing South Africa’s Peter Kirsten, Courtney Walsh opting not to Mankad Pakistan’s Saleem Jaffar, and more recently, England’s Jos Buttler being run out by Sri Lanka’s Sachithra Senanayake.
Buttler would later be Mankaded out by Indian spinner R Ashwin in the IPL as well, bringing the same controversy to light again.
One of the most bizarre cases of Mankading came in a ICC women’s T20 World Cup Africa region qualifier match between African nations Cameroon and Uganda.
In this encounter, Maeve Douma, who was playing for Cameroon pulled off a whopping four Mankad dismissals against Uganda. ICC women’s T20 World Cup Africa region qualifier.
Douma, who was 16 years old at that time, sent back four Uganda batters using this tactic at Gaborone in Botswana but that could not help Cameroon as they collapsed to 35 all out in response to their opponent’s 190/6.
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) September 12, 2021
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Here’s a list of all the mankad dismissals at the international level in men’s cricket so far:
Tests:
- Bill Brown by Vinoo Mankad, Australia v India, Sydney, 1947–48
- Ian Redpath by Charlie Griffith, Australia v West Indies, Adelaide, 1968–69
- Derek Randall by Ewen Chatfield, England v New Zealand, Christchurch, 1977–78
- Sikander Bakht by Alan Hurst, Pakistan v Australia, Perth, 1978–79
ODIs:
- Brian Luckhurst by Greg Chappell, England v Australia, Melbourne, 1974–75
- Grant Flower by Dipak Patel, Zimbabwe v New Zealand, Harare, 1992–93
- Peter Kirsten by Kapil Dev, South Africa v India, Port Elizabeth, 1992–93
- Jos Buttler by Sachithra Senanayake, England v Sri Lanka, Edgbaston, 2014
- Shadab Khan by Fazalhaq Farooqi, Pakistan v Afghanistan, Hambantota, Sri Lanka 2023
T20Is:
- Mark Chapman by Aamir Kaleem, Hong Kong v Oman, 2016 Asia Cup Qualifier, February 2016
In the South Africa v India Port Elizabeth ODI mentioned above, Kapil Dev had run Kirsten out after having warned him for the same in the previous game. South Africa captain Kepler Wessels was at the other end and he was alleged to have deliberately clipped Kapil’s shin with his bat while taking a single later.
Non-strikers have been run-out in this fashion at the under-19 World Cup as well, with West Indies’ Keemo Paul running Richard Ngarava
of Zimbabwe out. This happened in the last over of Zimbabwe’s chase when they needed three to win but had just one wicket standing.
There have also been incidents where the bowler has had a chance to mankad the non-striker but has either not done so or the team has withdrawn their appeal.
One of the most prominent instances of this came in the 1987 World Cup in which West Indies bowler Courtney Walsh refused to run Pakistan’s Saleem Jaffar out. Needing two to win off the final ball, Walsh had stopped himself from doing that before Abdul Qadir hit the winning runs – a defeat that would play a big part in knocking West Indies out of the World Cup.
In another case, India’s R Ashwin had run Lahiru Thirimanne of Sri Lanka out at the non-striker’s end in an ODI in Australia but after being asked by the umpires, captain Virender Sehwag had withdrawn the appeal.
ICC and MCC Standpoint
The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the custodians of the laws of cricket, explicitly state that Mankading is within the rules. The MCC, in particular, has reiterated that bowlers have the right to run out the non-striker before releasing the ball.
What does the MCC have to say about the mankad?
In 2022, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which is responsible for the cricket laws, switched the mankad law from Law 41, which dealt with unfair play, to Law 38, which talks about run-out.
The fact that they have pressed on with the law and even shifted it from the unfair play section to the run-out one, speaks volumes about what the MCC thinks about it – there is no question about the spirit of the game getting tarnished because of this.
Read what the MCC had to say after the section change:
“MCC’s message to non-strikers continues to be to remain in their ground until they have seen the ball leave the bowler’s hand. Then dismissals, such as the one seen yesterday, cannot happen.”
If this doesn’t settle the debate, nothing would.
Controversies Surrounding Mankading
Despite its legality, Mankading is often met with resistance and considered against the spirit of the game. The tension arises from the perception that it goes against cricket’s unwritten code of fair play.
Spirit of the Game Debate
The debate on the spirit of the game revolves around differing interpretations.
On one hand, proponents argue that Mankading is a strategic and fair tactic within the rules. On the other hand, critics contend that it violates the sportsmanship ethos, especially when done without prior warning.
The Wording of the Mankading Law Itself
While the law cannot be – and isn’t – against the spirit of the game, it’s its wording that sometimes can also create a bit of a furore.
According to the mankad law, a non-striker, if outside his or her crease can be run out at any time between “the moment the ball comes into play and “the instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball.”
There isn’t too much debate about when a ball is in play – that’s when a bowler starts his run-up or his bowling action – but the bigger cause of confusion is the other part, i.e. “the instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball.”
It brings a lot of subjectivity to this law which makes it tougher to interpret for the umpires and fans alike.
Typically the umpires look at the bowling hand and if that’s not yet reached its highest point – i.e. perpendicular to the ground – then a mankad can be effected.
Alternative Solutions
Various alternatives to Mankading have been proposed, such as issuing a warning before a run-out attempt. The other is to penalise the non-striker a few runs if he/she leaves the crease before the ball is bowled but this isn’t the easiest rule to execute.
However, the challenge lies in finding a solution that balances fairness, strategy, and the preservation of cricket’s unique traditions.
Educating Players and Fans
The lack of understanding around Mankading often leads to emotional reactions. There is a need for better education, ensuring that players and fans are aware of the rules and nuances, reducing the likelihood of controversy.
Future of Mankading
The ongoing debate prompts consideration of the future of Mankading in cricket. Will it continue to be a contentious topic, or will evolving perspectives and interpretations bring about a shift in how it is perceived?
Well, the ICC has time and again tweaked this law to ensure it becomes more and more mainstream. This is in sharp contrast to the underarm bowling law which was immediately revoked after the Chappell brothers underarm incident in the 1981.
Global Perspectives
Different cricketing nations hold varying views on Mankading, reflecting cultural nuances and regional attitudes toward this mode of dismissal. Understanding these diverse perspectives adds depth to the ongoing dialogue.
As Mankading continues to stir emotions and ignite discussions, this comprehensive exploration of its history, controversies, and diverse perspectives aims to shed light on the intricacies of this intriguing yet contentious aspect of cricket. The evolving nature of the debate suggests that Mankading will remain a focal point of cricketing conversations for years to come.
Photo Credit: Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (GODL-India)