MCC changes wording of Mankad dismissal to remove ‘ambiguity’ after Adam Zampa incident
A week after this incident, the guardian of Laws of cricket released a statement, saying the third umpire has taken the correct decision.
MCC changes wording of Mankad dismissal to remove 'ambiguity' after Adam Zampa incident
The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) on Thursday (January 19) has changed the wording of the law pertaining to the run-out of a batter at the non-striker’s end. It did so to avoid confusion and make things clearer regarding when a run-out of batter at the non-striker’s end could be deemed as out.
Debates surrounding the same started when in a Big Bash League (BBL) match, Melbourne Stars captain Adam Zampa Mankaded Melbourne Renegades’ Tom Rogers, who was backing up too much. The 30-year-old Zampa had completed his follow-through and was about to deliver the ball to Mackenzie Harvey when he turned back and dislodged the bails.
The field umpire went upstairs, and much to Zampa’s embarrassment, the third umpire didn’t consider it a dismissal since Zampa’s arm had already gone past “the highest point” of his bowling action. A week after this incident, the guardian of Laws of cricket released a statement, saying the third umpire has taken the correct decision.
MCC says the meaning of the Law hasn’t changed
The MCC then added that although it acknowledges that this law has been understood by players and umpires, there’s still ‘ambiguity’ in the wording that could lead to confusion. Some misinterpreted the previous law, thinking if the non-striker left his/her crease before the expected moment of release, then the run-out can happen at any moment, even though the bowler had gone through the bowling action. That’s why the former governing body then changed the wording of Law 38.3.3; but, the meaning of this law hasn’t changed a bit.
Law 38.3.2 reads: “Even if the non-striker had left his/her ground before the instant at which the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, once the bowler has reached that point it is no longer possible for the bowler to run out the non-striker under this Law.”
The famous Mankad rule is based on Vinoo Mankad who was the first ever cricketer to attempt this run-out against Australia in 1947-48 series. Although the rule has been set down in the holy book of cricket rules as a permitted dismissal, cricketers who have practiced it are slammed for destroying the ‘Spirit of Cricket’.
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Gouri Das
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