‘Tonight is about another bowling hero’: Ashwin, Sehwag, Hales back Deepti Sharma’s run out of Charlie Dean

Cricket’s most infamous debate is back after Indian spinner Deepti Sharma ran out England’s Charlie Dean in the 44th over at the non-striker’s end. India women inflicted on England women a first one-day international whitewash in 20 years on Saturday, which was also the farewell game for India veteran Jhulan Goswami. It was India’s first ODI whitewash against England since 2002, when Goswami made her international debut.

Deepti Sharma was into her delivery stride when she caught England batter, Charlie Dean, backing up too far and whipped the bails off.

Dean was dumbstruck and threw her bat to the ground in tears. Her England teammates looked on with shaking heads, and the run out was confirmed by the umpires to end the match. India won by 16 runs and Dean was out for a team-best 47.

The moment India claimed their first ODI series win vs England in 20 years 🥺

Deepti Sharma ran Charlie Dean out at the non-striker’s end in her delivery stride, to give India a 3-0 sweep and @JhulanG10 a victorious farewell ✨#ENGvIND #SonySportsNetwork #SirfSonyPeDikhega pic.twitter.com/Ai2hWxBPlo

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) September 25, 2022

It has created quite an uproar and has left the cricketing world divided.

“It just doesn‘t feel like the right way to win a game,” former England batter Lydia Greenway told Sky Sports.

While former England captain Nasser Hussain called it ‘controversial’ on air.

England captain Amy Jones at the post-match presentation, said: “The last dismissal divides opinion. I’m not a fan but it depends how India feel about it. It’s within the rules, hopefully, doesn’t take the shine off the summer.”

Harmanpreet completely not addressing the question re the run out at the non-striker’s end a) shows how much of a non-thing this should be; and b) yasss queen, she gonna make a great politician one day. #ENGvIND

— Isabelle Westbury (@izzywestbury) September 24, 2022

Meanwhile, India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur back Deepti Sharma and said:”I will back my players, she hasn’t done something outside the rules.”

England all-rounder Georgia Elwiss on the BBC Test Match Special said: “I cannot believe the Indian team felt that was the only way they were going to get a wicket. I don’t think Charlie Dean was trying to gain any sort of advantage. It’s ridiculous. It’s taken the shine off Jhulan Goswami’s big send-off. She’s doing the lap of honour but everyone else in the ground is just stunned at how it’s finished.”

Why the hell are you trending Ashwin? Tonight is about another bowling hero @Deepti_Sharma06 🤩👏

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) September 24, 2022

R Ashwin, who had dismissed England batter Jos Buttler, in a IPL game in 2019, has backed Deepti Sharma. He tweeted: Why the hell are you trending, Ashwin? Tonight is about another bowling hero @Deepti_Sharma06.”

In fact that’s a great idea. How about awarding that wicket to the bowler for “ presence of mind” under immense pressure and of course knowing the social stigma that he/she would have to deal with post doing it. How about a bravery award to go with it too @ICC ? https://t.co/9PqqetnnGw

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) September 25, 2022

Former India batter Virender Sehwag, too, lamented former England cricketers, who have shown their angst towards Deepti.

Funny to see so many English guys being poor losers. #Runout . pic.twitter.com/OJOibK6iBZ

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) September 24, 2022

“Funny to see so many English guys being poor losers. #Runout,” Sehwag wrote on Twitter.

It’s actually quite simple. Ball comes into play when bowler starts run up. From that moment on as a batter or non striker you’ve to keep your eyes on the ball, if you’re a bit careless, opposition will get you out. And you can get out at either ends. #ENGvIND

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) September 24, 2022

Former India opener Wasim Jaffer said: “It’s actually quite simple. Ball comes into play when bowler starts run up. From that moment on as a batter or non striker you’ve to keep your eyes on the ball, if you’re a bit careless, opposition will get you out. And you can get out at either ends.”

However, several cricket fans, including the legendary James Anderson, Stuart Broad accused Sharma of having no intention of actually bowling the ball, bringing the ‘Spirit of Cricket’ into question.

I find the debate of the Mankad really interesting. So many views from either side. I personally wouldn’t like to win a match like that, also, very happy for others to feel differently https://t.co/BItCNJZqYB

— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) September 24, 2022

England paceman Stuart Broad called it a “terrible way” to win a cricket match, while British television personality Pierse Morgan tweeted: “Absolutely pathetic way to ‘win’ a cricket match. The whole India team should be ashamed of themselves.”

Not even looking at the other end in delivery stride… 🤣 pic.twitter.com/n0ZZjnpyuV

— Sam Billings (@sambillings) September 24, 2022

England wicketkeeper Sam Billings posted: “There’s surely not a person who has played the game that thinks this is acceptable? Just not cricket …

“Well within the laws but not in the spirit. Just my opinion … the law should be changed back to a warning system or penalty runs for excessive backing up.”

It shouldn’t be difficult for the non striker to stay in their crease til the ball has left the hand…

— Alex Hales (@AlexHales1) September 24, 2022

England opener Alex Hales replied to Billings tweet by saying: “It shouldn’t be difficult for the non striker to stay in their crease til the ball has left the hand.”

The ball didn’t leave the hand though.. I’m not talking necessarily about this incident, but just the ‘mankad’ issue in general. It wouldn’t be an issue if batters simply remained in the crease until the ball has left the hand 🤷🏽‍♂️

— Alex Hales (@AlexHales1) September 24, 2022

“The ball didn’t leave the hand though.. I’m not talking necessarily about this incident, but just the ‘mankad’ issue in general. It wouldn’t be an issue if batters simply remained in the crease until the ball has left the hand,” Hales said in his other tweet.

What an average way to win a game! Yes it’s officially in the rules! But poor when the batsman wasn’t trying to gain an advantage! She was just walking in with the bowler and when the bowler should’ve released the ball she was still in her crease! Really poor #ENGvsIND #mankading https://t.co/ehPJOAJbG0

— James Taylor (@jamestaylor20) September 24, 2022

Former England batter James Taylor posted: “What an average way to win a game! Yes it’s officially in the rules! But poor when the batsman wasn’t trying to gain an advantage! She was just walking in with the bowler and when the bowler should’ve released the ball she was still in her crease! Really poor.”

Former England spinner Alex Hartley told BBC Test Match Special: “I don‘t really know how I feel about it because I don’t think it’s in the spirit of the game.

“I can‘t believe it’s happened but I can believe it’s happened, and that it is Deepti Sharma.

“She always, always threatens to do it so as a team you‘ll talk about it. England have got a lot closer than India would have expected and she’s actually done it. I just don‘t think that’s how you should finish an international game. England are going to be absolutely seething.”

Kate Cross, who took 4-26 in the match, said she wouldn’t have done a Mankad and played down any anger in the England dressing room.

“It’s a dismissal that’s always going to divide opinion. Some people are going to like it and some people aren’t,” Cross said. “Deepti chose to dismiss Charlie that way. I’m more disappointed for Charlie that she couldn’t get 50 at Lord’s today because she looked set to do that. Maybe that’s the only way to get Deano out today.”