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MCC throws renewed support behind bowlers running out non-striker’s leaving the crease

Published

3 years ago

2023/02/26

The MCC World Cricket Committee has reaffirmed its stance on the matter of bowlers who run out non-strikers leaving the crease prior to delivery – colloquially referred to as a “Mankad” – which may help settle the cries for less severe punishment than the batter losing their wicket. In the same statement issued on Thursday following a meeting of the committee members in Dubai, the MCC also called for “calm across the global game following several high-profile incidents in a relatively short space of time.”

The hot-button debate generated renewed interest last September when India allrounder Deepti Sharma ran out England’s Charlie Dean for the game-clinching wicket in the 44th over of the third ODI at Lord’s which India won by 16 runs. Dean was on 47 off 80 balls at the time trying to rally her side which was chasing a target of 170. A detailed analysis conducted by ESPNcricinfo subsequently showed that Dean had left her crease early at the non-striker’s end on 72 occasions prior to being run out.

Deepti received support from captain Harmanpreet Kaur in the immediate aftermath of the incident during a post-match interview, saying, “Whatever we have done, I don’t think it was any crime. It is part of the game and is an ICC rule, and I think we just need to back our player.” The MCC World Cricket Committee made clear in its statement released on Thursday that the batter is at fault in such a scenario and that “there is no precedent to require a bowler to give a warning to a batter, confirming they are completely within their right to dismiss the batter on their first occasion they break the Law.”

The World Cricket Committee pointedly stated that such dismissals would not happen if non-strikers are “complying with the Law and remaining within their ground until they have seen the ball being released from the bowler’s hand.” In other words, it is the batter’s responsibility to avoid being dismissed like this, just as it is their responsibility to avoid being dismissed bowled or lbw or caught.

“The bowler is not the villain here,” Committee member Kumar Sangakkara said. “Every batter has a choice; to stay in their ground, or risk being given out if they try to steal ground. If they choose the latter, they are the ones who are breaking the Law.”

Running non-strikers out for backing up too far tends to foster the argument that it isn’t so big a mistake that it should cost a wicket. There is also a fear that normalising it would have a negative effect at grassroots level. But MCC World Cricket Committee chairman Mike Gatting disagrees.

“We have seen suggestions that this method of dismissal will be attempted more and more at recreational level and there is the possibility of matches descending into chaos,” Gatting said. “Whilst attempts may increase in the short term, we would expect batters to learn their responsibilities under the Laws very quickly and drive it out of prominence.”

“Our stance on this is simple – batters must not steal ground if they do not wish to be given out in this manner. Nor should they be expecting to be given a warning if they do. If all non-strikers only left the popping crease once the ball had been released, there would never be the need for such a dismissal again.

“The game is in a place where it should be able to self-regulate on this dismissal but there needs to be a Law in place, as we can’t have a situation whereby batters are able to gain ground without bowlers being able to do anything about it.”

The issue came under more scrutiny once again during a two week stretch in January where a spate of incidents happened across franchise cricket as well as men’s and women’s international cricket. The first incident in the sequence took place on January 3 in a Big Bash League match between Melbourne Stars and Melbourne Renegades. Stars captain Adam Zampa attempted to remove the bails with Renegades batter Tom Rogers well outside of his crease, but umpires ruled the appeal not out deeming that Zampa had gone past the point in his delivery action “where the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball”.

This specific incident resulted in the MCC releasing a statement on January 19 to make a slight adjustment in the wording of Law 38.3.In a different incident on January 10, India men’s captain Rohit Sharma chose to withdraw an appeal made after fast bowler Mohammed Shami removed the bails to catch Sri Lanka captain out of his crease in the final over of the first ODI at Guwahati in January. Shanaka was on 98 at the time and the reprieve allowed him to score a century in a match that India won a few balls later by 67 runs defending a total of 373. The incident sparked debates about whether the dismissal should be attempted only at certain moments of a match versus being fair game for the entirety of play.

Just five days later, Pakistan Women’s U19 bowler Zaib-un-Nisa ran out Rwanda batter Shakila Niyomuhoza in an opening round fixture at the ICC Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup in South Africa. The run-out occurred in the final over of the first innings in which Rwanda finished on 106 for 8 before Pakistan chased the target down to win by eight wickets with 13 balls to spare.

(Cricinfo)

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Vaibhav Suryavanshi slams 95-ball 171 in Under-19 Asia Cup opener

Published

3 hours ago

2025/12/12

Priyan

Vaibhav Suryavanshi hit nine fours and 14 sixes in his innings [Cricinfo]

Vaibhav Suryavanshi slammed a blistering 95 ball 171 in the Under 19 Asia Cup opener against UAE on Friday. He fell just six short of Ambati Rayudu’s long-standing India record in youth one-dayers – the 177 against England in Taunton back in 2002.

Suryavanshi, yet to turn 15, hit nine fours and 14 sixes during his innings, before being bowled attempting a paddle in the 33rd over of India’s innings. They eventually finished with 433 for 6 after being put in to bat.

Last month, Suryavanshi had smashed a 42-ball 144 – the joint third fastest century by an Indian in men’s T20s – against UAE at the Rising Stars Asia Cup in Doha. He had got to his century off 32 deliveries that day, in the process recording the joint-sixth-fastest century in all men’s T20s.

Suryavanshi – a certainty to feature in next month’s Under19 World Cup in Namibia and Zimbabwe – also recently slammed an unbeaten 61 ball 108 at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy to become the youngest century-maker in the tournament’s history.

He had a breakthrough year in 2025, when he became the youngest to slam an IPL century, for Rajasthan Royals [101 off 38 balls] against Gujarat Titans. Having made history just a few months earlier – by becoming the youngest pick in an IPL auction at 13 – Suryavanshi featured in seven games in the 2025 edition, all as an opener. He made 252 runs at a strike rate of 206.55.

After IPL 2025, he was part of the India Under-19 squads that toured England and Australia. He smashed a 78 ball century in the first four-day fixture in Brisbane, and finished as the second-highest run-getter of the multi-day series against Australia Under-19s, scoring 133 runs in three innings as India won 2-0.

Prior to that, he had amassed 335runs at a strike rate of 174.01 in the one-dayers against England Under-19s.

[Cricinfo]

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Quinton de Kock’s 90 powers South Africa to massive win

Published

3 hours ago

2025/12/12

Priyan

Quinton de Kock's 90 from 46 deliveries helped South Africa to a 200-plus total [BCCI]

If India defied losing the toss and getting the worst of the conditions, theoretically, in Cuttack, South Africa did the same in New Chandigarh to come roaring back into the T20I series, which is now locked 1-1 with three matches to go.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav noted at the toss that the outfield was already dewy when the players were going through their pre-match warm-ups. It was a no-brainer to chase. But Quinton de Kock put India under pressure with a 46-ball 90 studded with seven sixes, and Donovan Fererrira finished brilliantly with an unbeaten 16-ball 30, taking South Africa to an imposing total of 213 for 4.

Imposing, but not dew-proof; certainly not given how India’s bowlers had struggled with the conditions and bowled 15 wides — including seven in one Arshdeep Singh over — and 13 full-tosses.

But the dew never got a chance to test South Africa, as their new-ball bowlers made the best possible use of early movement to take three wickets in the first four overs. These included the Test-match-style dismissals of both India openers.

It was all steeply uphill from 32 for 3, and India never really challenged the visitors, with Tilak Varma’s 34-ball 62 standing out for its fluency and enterprise on a difficult night for his team. South Africa bowled India out with five balls still remaining, with Ottneill Baartman hastening their end with three wickets in the 19th over.

This pitch wasn’t a complete featherbed, with the ball occasionally stopping on the batters and making them mistime shots. Two members of South Africa’s top three, Reeza Hendricks and Aiden Markram, scored 37 off 36 balls between them.

The other member, however, was in an entirely different mood, taking full toll of anything remotely too short, too full, or especially too straight. De Kock kept clearing the ropes whenever he had half a chance, particularly with his pulls and pick-up shots square and behind square on the leg side.

This put India’s bowlers under tremendous pressure. They couldn’t attack de Kock’s stumps, because that ran the risk of being whisked over the leg side, and they couldn’t afford to give him width either. This pressure led India to attempt yorkers and wide yorkers frequently, and the pressure combined with the dew to produce errors in the form of wides and full-tosses.

Arshdeep suffered the most from this, sending down seven wides in the 11th over — all to de Kock – and nine in all.

Jitesh Sharma’s alert run-out of de Kock — who wandered out of his crease instinctively after bottom-edging the ball towards the keeper — in the 16th over, followed by Axar Patel’s dismissal of Dewald Brevis in the 17th threatened to stall South Africa at a critical stage of their innings. But Ferreira and David Miller made sure they cleared 200 by a good margin, putting on an unbroken 53 off 23 balls for the fifth wicket.

The highlight of the partnership was an 18-run final over during which Ferreira hit Jasprit Bumrah for two sixes: a full-toss drilled straight, and a good short ball that followed the batter’s premeditated movement pulled authoritatively over the leg side.

In all, Bumrah conceded four sixes, the most he has gone for in a T20I.

Given all the dew around, it was imperative that South Africa made the new ball count. They did that emphatically. Ngidi set things in motion with a first-over jaffa to Shubman Gill, squaring him up in defence with one that straightened from a good length and having him caught at slip. Jansen followed up in the next over with the mirror-image dismissal of Abhishek Sharma; angling in, straightening, squaring up the batter and catching the outside edge.

Abhishek’s wicket was particularly crucial, since he’d already hit two sixes, in just eight balls.

Suryakumar followed the openers to the dressing room in the fourth over, sending a thin edge to the keeper — confirmed after South Africa reviewed the not-out decision — while looking to steer Jansen behind point.

India never threatened to make a match of it, particularly with Axar Patel — promoted to No. 3 — and Hardik Pandya struggling for fluency, scoring 41 off 44 balls between them.

But there was one bright spot for the home team in the form of Tilak, who looked in excellent rhythm right from the time he walked in, and combined that with his awareness of the field to find the boundary frequently even while his partners got stuck. Against Ferreira’s 110kph offspin rockets, for example, he made room to use the pace and steer him behind point, off the stumps. Then, against George Linde’s left-arm spin, he collapsed his back knee smartly to reverse-sweep over backward point for six. A slog-swept six off an Ngidi slower ball took him to a 27-ball half-century in the 14th over.

Jitesh, who came in at No. 7, also made good use of the V behind the wicket, scoring 27 off 17, but the result was already certain by the time he walked in, with India needing 96 off 34 balls at that point.

Brief scores:
South Africa 213 for 4 in 20 overs (Quinton de Kock 90, Aiden Markram 29, Dewald Brevis 14, Donovan Ferreira 30*, David Millerr 20*; Varun Chakrawarthy 2-29, Axar Patel 1-27 ) beat India 162 in 19.1 overs (Abhishek Sharma 17, Axar Patel 21, Tilak Varma 62, Hardik Pandya 20, Jitesh Sharma 27; Ottneil Baartman 4-24, Marco Jansen 2-25, Lungi Ngidi 2-26, Sipamla 2-46) by 51 runs

[Cricinfo]

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Duffy five-for triggers West Indies slide to give New Zealand first win of WTC cycle

Published

3 hours ago

2025/12/12

Priyan

Jacob Duffy completed his second Test five-for [Cricinfo]

Jacob Duffy, who had to wait until his 31st birthday for a Test debut earlier this year, claimed his second five-wicket haul of the series as West Indies folded tamely on the third day in Wellington. Bowled out for just 128, West Indies left New Zealand a target of 56, which was knocked off before tea for a 1-0 lead in the three-match series with one game to go. It was New Zealand’s first win of the 2025-27 World Test Championships [WTC] cycle. West Indies, meanwhile, have now lost six of their seven outings in this cycle and remain winless.

The collapse began with Brandon King’s run-out for 22 in the morning session. After a careful start with overnight partner Kaveem Hodge (35), King set off for a risky single in the morning’s eighth over. Sent back and left stranded, he was gone once substitute Michael Bracewell’s sharp throw was relayed on to the stumps by debutant wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay.

Shai Hope fell in the same over after closing the bat face in an attempt to work Michael Rae to the leg side, offering a simple return catch. Roston Chase, averaging under 16 as Test captain, then nicked a rising delivery from Duffy through to the keeper.

Hodge and first-Test hero Justin Greaves (25) attempted to stabilising things, with Hodge unfurling crisp strokes through the covers and square leg. But in the 31st over, one of those well-struck pulls picked out substitute fielder Will Young, who held a superb rebound catch at midwicket.

At 88 for 6, with the lead still below 20, the match was effectively gone, and Duffy accelerated the finish. He trapped Greaves lbw with a full delivery that jagged in, a decision first turned down but later overturned on review. In his next over, Duffy drew Tevin Imlach into a loose drive away from his body for an edge to second slip. Rae added his third by removing Jayden Seales caught behind, before Duffy completed his five-for by going short to No. 11 Ojay Shields, who miscued a leg-side swipe to fine leg.

Duffy walked off to applause with the innings ball raised, and openers Tom Latham and Devon Conway dashed away to pad up with an hour left before tea and a small target in front.

The pair added 26 in seven overs before Latham got a leading edge off Anderson Phillip to third slip. Conway held fort, attacking with six fours in his unbeaten 22-ball 28. Kane Williamson, with 16 off 12 balls, wrapped up the match with back-to-back boundaries in the tenth over.

Earlier in the Test, Blair Tickner’s first-innings four-for and Rae’s three wickets dismissed West Indies for 205. New Zealand replied with a disappointing 278 for 9 declared, with Tickner unable to bat after picking up a shoulder injury. But half-centuries from Conway (61) and Hay (60) ensured a meaningful lead, which, combined with West Indies’ limp second-innings effort, set up a comfortable win.

After the game, New Zealand captain Latham said they got “better and better” as the game progressed. “We took a little bit to get into the game, morning of day one, potentially some heavy legs. But we adjusted things and we bowled better and better in the second innings. And obviously Duffy on the back of that [five-wicket haul] and some of our substitutes coming on and getting on the board was pleasing.

“Mitch Hay played beautifully in the first innings coming under pressure. The way he played was pretty much the way he plays for Canterbury and that’s what we asked of him. And Michael Rae picked up some really important wickets on day one, trucked into the wind all week. All those efforts do not go unnoticed. We probably weren’t where we wanted to be with the bat but we can look into that over the rest of this week.”

Chase said West Indies’ batters didn’t make the most of the conditions on offer: “Batting is a bit of a concern, after coming from the first Test, that beautiful second innings [in Christchurch]. But we came here and our batters never really capitalised. Initially we thought the pitch would be similar to Christchurch. But this pitch was a lot easier for batting. The scores didn’t reflect that. There is still one Test match left and we can still level the series. That can help motivate the guys further.”

The third Test begins on December 18 in Mount Maunganui.

Brief scores:
New Zealand 278 for 9 dec (Mitchell Hay 61, Devon Conway 60; Anderson Phillip 3-70, Kemar Roach 2-43) and 57 for 1 (Devon Conway 28*, Kane Williamson 16*; Anderson Phillip 1-17) beat West Indies 205 (Shai Hope 47, John Campbell 44; Blair Tickner 4-32, Michael Ray 3-66) and 128 (Kaveem Hodge 35, Jacob Duffy 5-38, Michael Rae 3-45) by nine wickets