New Delhi: Jos Buttler has now been ‘Mankaded’ twice in his senior competitive career while Ravichandran Ashwin has hit the ‘Bull’s Eye’ in his second attempt after an aborted one seven years back. The two protagonists in the latest episode of ‘Mankading and the ensuing Spirit of Cricket debate’, have been there and done that.
During a Commonwealth Bank series game February 21, 2012 against Sri Lanka in Brisbane, Ashwin had ‘Mankaded’ non-striker Lahiru Thirimanne for backing up too far. However, seniormost player Sachin Tendulkar was seen having a word with stand-in captain Virender Sehwag, who then withdrew the appeal against Thirimanne.
As far as Buttler is concerned, he also has not deviated from his stand that a bowler should warn a non-striker batsman before running him out on delivery stride, something that is not there in current rules. And Sachithra Senanayeke, an out-of-favour Sri Lankan off-spinner did warn Buttler during an ODI at the Edgbaston ground June 3, 2014 before ‘Mankading’ him.
The ‘spirit of cricket’ has always been a grey area when it comes to ‘Mankading’. Former India skipper Kapil Dev was lambasted after carrying out the act against Peter Kirsten in an ODI at Port Elizabeth, December 3, 1992. Kapil had warned Kirsten senior (elder step brother of former India coach Gary) before whipping the bails at the non-striker’s end after loading up.
However, one player, who might empathise with Ashwin is former India and Railways left-arm spinner Murali Kartik, who had not once but twice ‘Mankaded’ batsmen in domestic matches.
Once, playing for Surrey, during the 2012 English county season, he had ‘Mankaded’ Somerset batsman Alex Barrow, which led to him being booed by the home spectators at the Taunton ground. The very next year while representing Railways in the Ranji Trophy, Kartik had dismissed Bengal batsman Sandipan Das in a similar fashion having warned him earlier.
It should be stated here that 32 years ago, during a 1987 World Cup game in Lahore, great West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh thrice warned No.11 batsman Saleem Jaffer, who was constantly backing up too far. However, Walsh didn’t run him out and it allowed Abdul Qadir to hit a six and win the game for Pakistan. Walsh was then presented with a special medal by erstwhile Pakistan Zia ul Haq for showing ‘sportsman spirit’.
The debate continues as some like the legendary Sunil Gavaskar find it disgusting that one of India’s most iconic cricketer Vinoo Mankad’s is attached to this controversial dismissal. Mankad was the first to do it back in 1947 during a tour of Australia. “It was Bill Brown who got out, so why is it called ‘Mankading’ and not Browned,” Gavaskar has time and again stated.
PTI