Sri Lanka VS. Bangladesh.
Introduction
On November 6, 2023, Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews was dismissed in a controversial manner in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup match against Bangladesh. Mathews was timed out before facing a ball, making him the first batter in international cricket to be dismissed in this way.
What happened?
The incident occurred in the 25th over of the Sri Lankan innings, after the dismissal of Sadeera Samarawickrama. Mathews walked in to bat at number 6, but was unable to take guard immediately as the strap on his helmet broke. He signaled to the dressing room for a new helmet, but it took a few minutes for it to arrive.
In the meantime, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan and the other fielders began to appeal for a timed out dismissal. The umpires, Marais Erasmus and Richard Illingworth, consulted with each other and decided to uphold the appeal. Mathews was given out, much to his dismay.
The rules
Law 40.1.1 of the Laws of Cricket states that:
After the fall of a wicket or the retirement of a batter, the incoming batter must, unless Time has been called, be ready to receive the ball, or for the other batter to be ready to receive the next ball within 3 minutes of the dismissal or retirement.
The umpires have the discretion to extend this time limit if they believe that there is a good reason for the delay, such as an injury to a batter or a problem with equipment. However, in this case, the umpires decided that Mathews had taken too long to get ready to bat and therefore dismissed him.
Reaction
The dismissal of Mathews was met with mixed reactions. Some people sympathized with Mathews, arguing that it was an unfortunate accident and that he should not have been penalized for something that was beyond his control. Others, however, defended the umpires’ decision, arguing that the rules are clear and that Mathews had simply taken too long to get ready to bat.
Conclusion
The dismissal of Angelo Mathews is a reminder of the importance of being prepared to bat when your name is called. It is also a reminder of the umpires’ authority to uphold the Laws of Cricket, even if it means making a controversial decision.
Additional thoughts
Some people have questioned whether the timed out dismissal is a fair rule. They argue that it is too harsh to penalize a batter for something that is beyond their control, such as a problem with their equipment. Others, however, argue that the rule is necessary to keep the game moving and to prevent batters from delaying the game deliberately.
Ultimately, it is up to the umpires to decide whether or not a batter has taken too long to get ready to bat. If they believe that the batter has delayed the game unnecessarily, they have the power to dismiss them timed out.
Interesting facts
- Angelo Mathews is the first batter in international cricket to be dismissed timed out.
- The timed out dismissal is relatively rare in cricket. In fact, there have only been a handful of instances of batters being dismissed timed out in first-class cricket.
- The umpires’ decision to dismiss Mathews was controversial. Some people sympathized with Mathews, while others defended the umpires’ decision.
Conclusion
The dismissal of Angelo Mathews is a reminder of the importance of being prepared to bat when your name is called. It is also a reminder of the umpires’ authority to uphold the Laws of Cricket, even if it means making a controversial decision.