In a recent TNPL match between Dindigul Dragons and Nellai Royal Kings, R. Ashwin, a player often associated with the mankading controversy, found himself nearly caught in the very tactic he’s famously defended. Representing Dindigul Dragons, Ashwin was warned for stepping out of the crease early—a moment that stirred up a renewed debate on mankading and the rules surrounding it.
The incident happened during the 15th over when left-arm spinner Mohan Prasath pulled out of his delivery stride, catching Ashwin off guard as he scrambled to keep his bat behind the crease. Although Ashwin avoided being run out or mankaded, the situation led Prasath to consult the umpire, suggesting they keep an eye on Ashwin’s movements at the non-striker’s end. If Ashwin repeated the action, Prasath hinted at the possibility of running him out, sparking a broader discussion about the tactic.
Ashwin himself weighed in on the matter, tweeting a screenshot of the relevant law and defending his position. But what exactly is mankading, and why is there so much controversy around it?
Exactly. Why are the commentators not pointing the fact that he was in at the time of the delivery stride, and that it would have been a Not out?
— Sankara Subramaniam (@Sankarcalls) July 29, 2024
What is Mankading?
The term “mankading” originated from a 1947 Test match in Sydney, where Indian all-rounder Vinoo Mankad ran out Australian batsman Bill Brown at the non-striker’s end. This mode of dismissal, named after Mankad, has since been a topic of debate in cricket. It was traditionally viewed as falling under “unfair play,” but in 2022, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) reclassified it under the “run-out” section of the laws, affirming its legality.
Why Ashwin’s View on Mankad Laws is Incomplete
In his defense, Ashwin referenced Law 38.3.1, which states: “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.” However, Ashwin overlooked a crucial part of the rule, which specifies that the bowler is expected to release the ball at the “highest point of their normal bowling action in the delivery swing.”
This means that Ashwin, while citing part of the law, missed the full context. To avoid being run out, he needed to ensure he was still in the crease until Prasath reached the highest point of his delivery swing. This nuanced interpretation of the rule is what sparked the controversy and the subsequent discussions.
The debate over mankading continues to divide opinions in the cricketing world, with some seeing it as a legitimate form of dismissal and others viewing it as contrary to the spirit of the game. As cricket evolves, so too does the conversation around the laws that govern it.
