Cricket World Cup 2023: Angelo Mathews becomes the first International player to be dismissed by timed out! What is timed out? 

Since it's addition into the Laws of Cricket in 1980, there have been 6 instances of it happening in First Class cricket and none in International cricket until today.

Cricket World Cup 2023: Angelo Mathews becomes the first International player to be dismissed by timed out! What is timed out? 

Angelo Mathews is the first International cricketer to be given out by timed out (Image via ESPN)

On 6th November, Angelo Mathews became the first batter in international cricket to be given out by timed out. During the match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup, the veteran batter took more than 2 minutes to take guard on the crease. 

Coming in to bat after the dismissal of Sadeera Samarawickrama, Mathews was about to take guard until he realized he had a faulty strap on his helmet. He had asked for a replacement right away, which took time. Realizing he had gone above the limit of 2 minutes, Bangladesh Captain Shakib Al Hassan appealed to the umpires. Umpire Marais Erasmus decided to accept the appeal and send Mathews back to the pavilion. 

Angelo Mathews pleaded his case with the umpires and Bangladesh players, saying that his strap broke off just when he was about to take guard. Unfortunately the umpires didn’t budge and Shakib refused to take back his appeal. The Sri Lankan all-rounder walked back enraged, throwing his helmet on the ground and telling his coaches he was ready to bat. 

What is time out? 

According to Law 40 the Law of Cricket, timed out is a form of dismissal which occurs when a new batter takes more than 3 minutes to be prepared to face a ball. It was added in 1980 and it provided batters 2 minutes to step into the field of play. In 2000, the law was changed with the time limit increased to 3 minutes. According to the new law, the batter must be in position to take guard or their partner to be ready to face a delivery. Although this is the law set by MCC, the ICC World Cup gives batters 2 minutes to take guard, which Angelo Mathews failed to do.

Angelo Mathews
Angelo Mathews shows his broken strap to the Bangladesh team in hopes of them withdrawing their appeal (Image via ESPN)

If a batter takes more than 3 minutes, or 90 seconds in T20s, to be ready to take guard, the umpire can give the batter out by timed out. There have been 6 instances in First Class cricket where batters have been given timed out. Sussex Batter Harold Heygate was out by timed out in 1919, 61 years before the introduction of the rule. Sussex had contested the wicket, but the MCC agreed with the umpire.

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