ICC WTC Final: Ravinchandran Ashwin had found himself at the centre of all the debate after his (in)famous Mankad against Rajasthan Royals batter Jos Buttler during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019. The off-spinner has now given a unique way in which ICC can stop batters from leaving the crease early and hence preventing Mankading.
Ashwin, in his reply to a tweet by former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, who asked for suggestions on rule changes for a better viewing experience, said batters who leave the creae early should be punished.
“Hi guys, tell me what you think about some aspects of the game mentioned in this column that have me peeved a little bit. Also let me know what rule changes you would make to better your viewing experience. Will retweet the interesting ones,” Manjrekar tweeted.
Come on @sanjaymanjrekar ,free hit is a great marketing tool and has captured the imagination of all the fans.
Let’s add a free ball for the bowlers every time a batter leaves the non strikers end early, a wicket of that ball will reduce 10 runs of the bowlers analysis and total https://t.co/XdwrhHECnv— Mask up and take your vaccine🙏🙏🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) May 28, 2021
ICC WTC Final: Replying on this tweet, Ashwin suggested that the bowler can get a free ball and 10 runs deducted from the bowler’s figures and batting team’s total every time a batter does so.
“Come on @sanjaymanjrekar ,free hit is a great marketing tool and has captured the imagination of all the fans. Let’s add a free ball for the bowlers every time a batter leaves the non strikers end early, a wicket of that ball will reduce 10 runs of the bowlers analysis and total,” Ashwin tweeted
He added: “Remember, ‘you are supposed to leave the crease only after the ball leaves the hand’.”
ICC WTC Final: Ashwin will be travelling to England with the Indian team for the World Test Championship against New Zealand next month, followed by Test series against Joe Root’s Three Lions.
WHAT IS MANKADING?
Mankading can come into play in situations where the batsman at the non-striker’s end leaves the crease before the bowler completes his delivery stride (or before the ball leaves the bowler’s hand). Batsmen, especially in limited-overs cricket, back up (or leave the crease at the non-striker’s end) in order to have momentum when the striker calls for a run.
Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which takes care of the Laws of Cricket, in its rulebook states that a “bowler is permitted to attempt a run out” when the non-striker leaves his/her ground early.