A rift between the cricket laws and the spirit of the game! Who trumps who? A classical difference of opinions emerges around Deepti Sharma’s Mankad!
A rift between the cricket laws and the spirit of the game! Who trumps who? A classical difference of opinions emerges around Deepti Sharma’s Mankad! The last match between India and England in the 3-match series occurred at the legendary Lord’s stadium. India won all three games, but people had different feelings about the last wicket. Deepti Sharma saw Charlie Dean was walking ahead too far at the non-striker end in the 44th over when England needed 17 runs off 38 balls. India needed one last wicket to win the series 3-0, a clean sweep! But, instead of completing the delivery, she dismissed Dean to get the last wicket. While England’s players were upset about Deepti’s dismissal, India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur supported her star all-rounder. Even on social media, people have different things to say.
MCC’s take on the laws!
The MCC, which is in charge of cricket’s rules, was glad to hear about the debate but said again that what happened was legal. “The Law is clear, as it needs to be for all umpires to be able to easily interpret throughout all levels of the game and at all moments in the game,” the MCC said in a statement. “Cricket is a broad church and the spirit by which it is played is no different. As custodians of the Spirit of Cricket, MCC appreciates its application is interpreted differently across the globe.”
“Respectful debate is healthy and should continue, as where one person sees the bowler as breaching the Spirit in such examples, another will point at the non-striker gaining an unfair advantage by leaving their ground early.”
“MCC’s message to non-strikers continues to be to remain in their ground until they have seen the ball leave the bowler’s hand. Then dismissals, such as the one seen yesterday, cannot happen.”
“Whilst yesterday was indeed an unusual end to an exciting match, it was properly officiated and should not be considered as anything more.”
Contrasting opinions!
Here are some other things people said about the event on social media – good and bad!
Wasim Jaffer
“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”
R. Ashwin
“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 ?”
Harsha Bhogle
“Imagine a World Cup final. 1 to level scores. Non-striker charges down for a single and is in by a quarter of an inch. Suppose it turns out that she had the left the crease before the ball was bowled. Would that be fair? Would running less to win be in the spirit of the game?”
Stuart Board
“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.”
Alex Hales
“It shouldn’t be difficult for the non striker to stay in their crease til the ball has left the hand…”
Monty Panesar
“It would be questioned for a long time but it’s in the law of the games. You can be run out by #mankading. Bear in mind it’s in the laws of the game. #ENGvsIND”
Aakash Chopra
“Well done, Deepti Sharma. You did the right thing. And don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. And well done, Team India. The sweet taste of a clean sweep on English soil. Brilliant.”
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