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Another Mankad run-out draws furious reaction in Australia

Australian club cricket mankad
Australian club cricket mankad

Footage has emerged of a furious batsman throwing his bat and helmet in disgust having been given out run out at the non-striker’s end in Australian club cricket.

Jarrod Kaye of Claremont was 'Mankaded' by New Norfolk’s vice-captain Harry Booth during the Tasmanian Southern Cricket Association [SCA] first-grade grand final, and left the field in high dudgeon, launching his kit towards the boundary.

While this mode of dismissal – commonly named after the Indian legend Vinoo Mankadhas proved a controversial topic in the professional and amateur game in recent times, this particular incident was contentious for a couple of reasons.

First, was the state of the game: in the final, Claremont were 131 for six chasing 266, with Kaye the key man, unbeaten on 43 (Claremont were eventually bowled out for 214). Second, was the fact that it is unclear if he was definitely out of his ground. Booth broke the stumps legally but, from stream footage, it is unclear whether Kaye had definitely strayed beyond the crease. After a long conference involving three New Norfolk players, the umpires gave Kaye out.

The batsman turned to leave the field, sharing some choice words with certain fielders, before launching his helmet then bat towards the boundary rope. He then kicked one of his gloves before throwing the other. As Kaye entered the pavilion in fury, team-mates retrieved his kit. At the same time, there is considerable anger emanating from a vocal crowd.

As ever, the incident divided opinion. Jim Maxwell, the great ABC Grandstand cricket commentator, came down on the side of the batsman.

“His club, the bowler’s, should invoke a lengthy ban for bringing the game into disrepute,” he tweeted. “Premeditated ?….but we seem to be losing our moral compass, don’t we….it is a game.”

Many fans on social media saw the matter differently, though, reminding batsmen to stay in their crease until the ball had been bowled.

Last year, England’s Charlie Dean was run out at the non-striker’s end by India’s Deepti Sharma, concluding a tight game at Lord’s. Jos Buttler has also found himself in trouble with the dismissal, which is becoming more accepted globally – but often offends the sensibilities of English players – over the years.

The incident is a reminder that the issue could rear its head in club cricket in the UK this summer, as the dismissal is so much more difficult to adjudicate at amateur level, where multi-angle replays are not available. The heated debate around the matter has led to fears that fights and disorder could follow.


What are your thoughts on the 'Mankad' debate? Join the conversation in the comments section below