Mankading Butler

Cricket is called the gentleman’s game as against football which christened the beautiful game. In that context, there has always been a lot said and done about the spirit of the game, and MCC or the Marylebone Cricket Club has been the custodians of the spirit of the game. With cricket evolving into a multi-billion dollar sport, the competitive spirit has peaked up and competitors seem to want to try and bend the rules to the breaking point to gain whatever advantage that can be gained. While ball tampering and match-fixing have been the prominent areas of concern in terms of cheating or getting an advantage in the sport, a lesser controversy is mankading which is about getting an advantage rather than cheating. However, to some custodians of the spirit of the game, it is on par with cheating.

In India’s tour of Australia of 1947, Vinoo Mankad bowling left-arm spin in the second test at the iconic SCG, ran out Bill Brown and introduced the term Mankading to Cricketing Jargon. The act obviously had its fair share, but being within the rules of the game was fair. Even more so the batsman in question had already been run out once in similar fashion in a tour game appearing for the Australian Xi earlier; that too after being pre-warned by Mankad. Even the legendary Bradman, the then captain of the Australian team had come out in support of Mankad. Over the years, cricket history records 3 more incidents of Mankading in tests and 4 of the same in One-day internationals. History also records 4 incidences when cricketers have chosen to not get their opponents out through this rule instead, warning them and letting them go. 

So what is Mankading? Mankading is basically running out a batsman at the non-striker’s end if he is short of the crease when the bowler is on the way to deliver the bowl but has yet not delivered it. This essentially was designed to ensure that the non-striker while taking a run doesn’t try and steal an extra distance before the bowl is bowled. After all, an inch that is gained this side of the crease means an inch saved that side fo the crease, a could be all the difference in a tight run-out. A means, therefore, to basically keep the non-striker straight and honest on the pitch. While some have said a warning is befitting before the actual dismissal, the rules do not need such an act to be made. 

The most recent controversy on this has been when Ravichandran Ashwin captaining KingsXI Punjab in the IPL game against Rajasthan Royals Mankaded the English wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Butler out in this fashion. While opinion was divided as to whether it was in the spirit of the game, there was no division as to whether it was within the rules of the game. Mathew Hayden and Shane Warne legends of the game have been most vocal about the incident calling the act to be shameful. I wonder if they have the same thoughts about their compatriot Alan Hurst who took the same route to dismiss Sikander Bakht. I wonder what their opinions are about the people who bend rules like the Chappel brothers who sought to underarm bowling, and yet Greg and Ian Chappel are revered in Australia. 

This incident has greater significance, due to the impact it had on the match. Royals were going gung ho while Butler was at the crease, and with his dismissal seemed to fold like a pack of cards handing over the win to their opponents. It is this that makes the context of the incident more relevant. However, if we look at Jos Butler, we will see that he has a history with being dismissed in this fashion. He has already been Mankaded by Sachitra Senanayake of Sri Lanka once in history. That to me means Butler is a serial offender in terms of wanting to pinch that extra foot while backing up to steal a run. So if Butler has a propensity to bend, maybe break the rules to favor himself why should not Ashwin stay within the rules of the game and run him out. Does the spirit of the game that suggests Ashwin should warn Butler or not run him out suggest that Butler steal the advantage? Would Warnie or Haydos pls explain how can THAT be becoming of a gentleman and be acceptable? That too when done to a serial offender. To be fair the only thing that a close observation of the situation unfolding is that Butler was not out of the crease when Ashwin was in the delivery stride, in fact, Ashwin had stopped his delivery stride to allow the momentum with which Butler was backing up to continue to do, step out of the crease and then run him out. If there be any criticism of Ashwin it would be that. But all said and done there was no doubt to the fact that Butler was moving out of the crease, and if Ashwin would have completed his delivery stride, Butler would have been out of the crease and THAT is not permissible as per the rules of the game.

When a game is played competitively, whether, at the international level or in a league as competitive as the IPL, professionals will try and wrest any and every advantage that is available. If something is unacceptable behaviour then it should be out of the rule books. If it is in the rule books it cant be looked down upon under the pretext of the spirit of the game. Every coin has two sides, similarly, the Mankad incident has two sides. If it is unsportsmanlike to run the batsman out it is cheating to steal the advantage of running short to not get run out at the other end. You got it wrong Warnie mate-its all in the rules, it’s all fair and square like the Victoria bitter you love. Cheers Mate