In an unprecedented turn of events, Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews etched his name in the annals of international cricket history as the first batsman ever to suffer the peculiar fate of being “timed out.” The incident occurred amidst a cloud of controversy during a World Cup match against Bangladesh in New Delhi. This curious dismissal, known as “timed out,” had seldom made its mark in cricket history, but when it did, it left an indelible impression.
The story of unusual dismissals in cricket goes back to the famous Mankad incident during India’s tour of Australia. Vinoo Mankad, an Indian cricketer, had cautioned Australian opener Bill Brown about straying too far from the non-striker’s end during a warm-up game at the Sydney Cricket Ground. When Brown paid no heed to the warning, Mankad took matters into his own hands and ran him out. The controversy stirred by this incident led to the coining of the term ‘Mankad’ for such dismissals, a debate that persists to this day.
In another historic moment, Australia’s Andrew Hilditch became the first non-striker to be given out for ‘handling the ball’ during a contentious Test against Pakistan. This incident saw Hilditch innocently handling a wayward throw and returning the ball to Sarfraz Nawaz, only to find himself at the center of an appeal, ultimately leading to his dismissal.
The unusual modes of dismissals in cricket have often sparked debates and controversies, with players and fans alike divided over their fairness and sportsmanship. The ‘timed out’ rule itself was introduced to cricket’s law book relatively recently, in 1980, and remains an infrequent occurrence.
As history has shown, cricket’s peculiar dismissals are not limited to batsmen alone. Occasionally, non-strikers and fielders find themselves in the midst of controversial decisions, adding more layers to the ongoing debate about the spirit of the game.
One of the more recent instances that captivated cricket fans happened during the second Ashes Test of this year, when England’s Jonny Bairstow made an early exit, enraging spectators and sparking a heated confrontation between Australian players and members of the MCC at Lord’s. These incidents, while infrequent, continue to be memorable moments in the rich tapestry of cricket history, provoking discussions on the spirit and integrity of the sport.
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