England, Go Cry Somewhere Else!

India's all-rounder Deepti Sharma has grabbed the limelight for running out England's Charlotte Dean at the non-striker end which is an act known as 'Mankading' in the third ODI against England. This was a turning point for India as they were looking for clean-sweep on English soil for the first time. India needed one wicket and England required 17 runs to win the match and Deepti Sharma did exactly what was written in ICC rules. So, why this uproar? It is against the spirit of the game!

 

 

 

Sometimes, the batter at the non-striker's end leaves his popping crease while the bowler is in his/her final delivery stride. If a bowler sees this, he/she can legally attempt to run out of that batter as per the laws of the sport.

 

This was first done by Indian cricket legend Vinoo Mankad during 1947-48 during India's tour of Australia by running out Australia's Bill Brown at the non-striker's end, which earned it the name 'Mankading'.

 

 

Though many cricketers argue that it is against the spirit of the game, it is totally legal as per the laws of the sport. As per Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Laws of Cricket, "If the non-striker is out of his/her ground at any time from the moment the ball comes into play until the instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, the non-striker is liable to be Run out. In these circumstances, the non-striker will be out Run out if he/she is out of his/her ground when his/her wicket is put down by the bowler throwing the ball at the stumps or by the bowler's hand holding the ball, whether or not the ball is subsequently delivered."

 

Also, as per updated playing conditions of the International Cricket Council (ICC), which will come into effect from October 1, 2022, this method of running out will be moved on from the 'Unfair Play' section to 'Run Out' section following the laws.

 

This dismissal by Deepti Sharma has divided the cricket fraternity..mostly it was England vs India!

 

 

 

Speaking about the same controversial run-out, India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur said, "To be honest, I thought you will ask about all the 10 wickets which were not easy to take as well [on being probed about the last wicket]. It's part of the game I don't think we have done something new. It shows your awareness, of what batters are doing. I will back my players, she hasn't done something outside the rules."

 

 

People need to understand that the rules are rules which are invented by the same country who are being sore losers. They need to understand it as fair as when they won a World Cup in 2019 on a boundary count.

 

And, English players shouldn't be talking about the spirit of the game. For e.g. the videos here-

 

 

 

 

 

Speaking of Charlie Dean, she needs to understand that she was leaving her crease since the second ball at the non-striker's end in the 18th over even when the ball was in the bowler's hand. She was never looking at the bowler to see if the ball was released. Basic lack of awareness!

 

 

So, English players need to accept the defeat or go cry somewhere else!