Stigma gets run out

RR’s Jos Buttler (left) is dismissed by KXIP’s R Ashwin during the 2019 IPL tie at Jaipur

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) on Wednesday took a significant step towards removing the stigma related to the bowler who runs out a batsman backing up too far at the non-striker's end.

The custodians of the game decided to move Law 41.16 [running out the non-striker often termed as ‘Mankaded'] from Law 41 [related to unfair play] to Law 38, which is about run outs. The wording of the law will remain the same, the MCC said in a release and will come into effect from October.

A screengrab of the dismissal

More power to bowlers

Invariably, there would be debates aplenty whenever a bowler dismisses a batsman at the non-striker's end for backing up too far even before the delivery is bowled.

Murali Kartik, the former India left-arm spinner, who has effected five dismissals at the non-striker's end, lauded the MCC's decision and felt the change will empower bowlers in a big way. "Things will change. I haven't seen the Spirit of the Game book, but I suppose it shouldn't [appear a crime] from now onwards. The bowlers will feel a lot more empowered to do what they have felt was always right," Kartik told mid-day.

Murali Kartik and Suresh Shastri

Often such dismissals would end up in controversy and it was thought to be against the Spirit of the Game. Kartik, however, disagreed with it. "It was always a fair dismissal. It's just that the interpretation was according to the convenience of people who wanted to invoke the Spirit of Cricket. I suppose it is a good time to modify the rule because although it was already there, people just wanted to interpret it to their convenience. It was always a dismissal within the rulebook. It's always the non-striker who is stealing yards and not doing the right thing. Because they [non-strikers] were doing it for years and centuries, and were getting away with it, everybody thought it was their divine right to just walk as if they were at a picnic," said Kartik.

Meanwhile, former international umpire Suresh Shastri welcomed the change. "Earlier, yes the bowler used to warn the non-striker, but now there is no such need. You can just dismiss the non-striker without any warning and the umpire will also have to straightaway give the non-striker out. The umpires too should not ask the fielding team whether they want to withdraw their appeal. I really welcome this change in the law," said Shastri, who umpired in two Tests, 19 ODIs and one T20I.

Back in 1947

Thanks to the Australian press, this mode of dismissal was also called ‘Mankading' after India great Vinoo Mankad dismissed Australian Bill Brown during the 1947-48 tour Down Under for backing up too far.

Kartik hoped that the usage of ‘Mankading' would stop now. "It's just that whichever part of the world wanted to use it, they used the term. For a long time, we have been terming it a run out. Even the MCC laws says it's a run out and not ‘Mankading.' Even before this, it was always called a run out at the non-striker's end for backing up too far," said Kartik.

Shastri credited Rahul

Mankad for taking up the issue with the ICC. "It [the modification in law] should have come a long time back. It has given a very bad name to our great Vinoo Mankad. Credit must also go to Rahul Mankad [his son], who has taken this issue up with the ICC and the BCCI. It is a run out…period," said Shastri.

Other significant rule changes

Unfair movement by the fielder
Until now, any member of the fielding side who moved unfairly, was punished only with a ‘Dead ball'. Given the action is both unfair and deliberate, the batting side will be awarded five penalty runs.

No saliva
The new Laws will not permit the use of saliva on the ball, which also removes any grey areas of fielders eating sugary sweets to alter their saliva to apply to the ball.

New batsman will always take strike
Law 18.11 has now been changed so that, when a batter is out Caught, the new batter shall come in at the end the striker was at, i.e. to face the next ball [unless it is the end of an over].

Courtesy: MCC website