The date 24 September was significant in women’s cricket. The end of a chapter called Jhulan Goswami, arguably the greatest woman fast bowler that cricket has seen. Team India gave her a fitting tribute by sealing the series against England 3-0.
However, despite her being the woman of the moment, it was her other teammate, Deepti Sharma who became the spotlight of that day and even of the following week.
“Earlier called ‘Mankad’ or ‘Mankading’, the special kind of run-out is when the bowler, while in action, runs the non-striker batter out if s/he tries to back up by leaving the crease.”
Deepti’s brilliant run-out of Charlotte dean was all over the English media. She sparked the debate in English media which is perhaps unnecessary and uncalled for.
Series of events
India scored a very low total of 169 in the last ODI. However, the bowlers turned the tide in favour of India and India was just one wicket away from the win. The only person in between the women in blue and clean sweeping England was a young rising star, Charlotte Dean.
After losing 9 wickets at 118, Dean took the total to 153 and was looking to cruise past the target until Deepti did something rare, something which always makes cricket pundits raise eyebrows, something with India having irked an English player before as well.
Dean was at the non-striker’s end looking for a quick single and Deepti took the bails off while bowling and Dean were out of the crease and England out of the match.
Aftermath
The controversial run-out raised so many debates among the cricket community that it has drawn a certain boundary of for and against.
Most of the current English players, ex-players, broadcasters, media and fans believed that it was wrong on Deepti’s part to run Dean out in this way and its totally against the “Spirit of the Game”
On the other side Indian media, ex-players, and broadcasters were supporting Deepti.
Why is non-striker run-out Controversial?
Earlier called “Mankad” or “Mankading”, the special kind of run-out is when the bowler, while in action, runs the non-striker batter out if he/she tries to back up by leaving the crease.
It was first done by Thomas Barker of Nottinghamshire to George Baigent of Sussex in 1835. For the next five times, only he did that runout. Surprisingly though, the English media didn’t term it as “Barker“.
- In tests, though it was done by one of the pastime Indian greats, Vinoo Mankad in Ind v Aus 1947 test by dismissing Bill Brown. Thus, Mankad was named after him. Since then it has occurred thrice in tests.
- In ODIs, it has been done 4 times and in T20is, only once.
- Charlie Dean became the first batter to get out this way in women’s ODIs.
During IPL 2019, Buttler was the victim of similar dismissal by R Ashwin, which boiled up the English Media and everybody went against Ashwin, trolls targeted Aswhin’s family but Aswhin defended himself with all his cricket knowledge and stood tall against all the criticism.
The Outrage
- Cricket correspondent, Nicholas Hoult described the dismissal as cricket’s “most glaring example of underhanded gamesmanship”
- Scyld Berry asked for the change in laws of Merylborne Cricket Club and said it should be legal for the non-striker to leave the crease when bowlers get into the action.
- Simon Heffer, on the other side, called it a “win at all cost” mentality.
- Cricketers like Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Sam Billings were in forefront of attacking this mode of dismissal and tweeted multiple times and engaged with Indian fans in debates.
In Support of the runout
It wasn’t as if the whole cricket community was against Deepti.
- English cricketer Alex Hales argued with Billings that Dean could have stayed back at her crease.
- Australian legend Jason Gillespie also echoed a similar thought and stated that it was a perfectly legal dismissal.
- American journalist Peter Della Penna wrote an interesting take in favour of the run-out
https://twitter.com/PeterDellaPenna/status/1573979090784223234
Conclusion
There wasn’t any debate when Stuart Broad didn’t walk in the 2013 Ashes despite the thickest edge one could ever get.
It’s not as if Broad did the wrong thing or something against the “spirit of cricket“.However, to point out something that is well within the ICC laws of cricket as “Unsportsmanlike“, is nothing more than hypocrisy.
As Harsha Bhogle has pointed out, it’s in the mindset. When you see something unexpected which is well within the law but you never did or expected it, it’s obvious to get surprised.
In my opinion, it’s not against the “Spirit of Cricket” rather it is a brilliant tactic. Taking advantage of backing up too much is a tactic, so is keeping them at check. The bottom line is “either remove it from the laws or end the pointless debate.”
