Renegade Tom Rogers has spoken about rival Adam Zampa’s attempted mankad that left him “fuming” at the MCG on Tuesday night, admitting the action only spurred him on for his career-best haul.
Zampa ignited controversy in the Melbourne derby with just two balls remaining in the Renegades’ innings by attempting to run Rogers out at the bowler’s end.
The Stars spinner immediately gestured with his index figure that Rogers should be out as the matter was sent for third umpire review.
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Gades make light work of Stars | 03:55
But replays showed Zampa’s arm was past vertical, with Rogers given the not out call as a result of the rule in place.
Not that he knew which way the call would go when asked directly if he knew the rule: “Ah, no” was his response to Fox Cricket.
“Obviously there was a bit of spice toward the back end of the innings,” he said.
“It’s probably a different way to how I’d go about things.
“Nothing too much was said (between he and Zampa). When it came up not out, I was pretty stoked actually. Whatever.
“Because it’s been a bit of the flavour of the month I was actually trying to stay in my crease as long as I could – so I was pretty happy the not out came up. I didn’t think I’d left too early.
“I was pretty excited to get out there with the ball.”
Even Stars coach David Hussey conceded the mankad was “not the right way to play cricket” when speaking to Fox Cricket’s Sarah Jones during the match.
“I spoke to Zamps already and he said if it had of been given out, we would have withdrawn our appeal anyway,” he said.
“It’s not the right way to play cricket yet it was more of a warning for the batter not to leave too early because at the end of the innings, that’s generally what happens.”
RAGING ROGERS – 5 WICKET HAUL | 01:17
The attempted mankad drew widespread boos in the MCG crowd and only spurred Rogers on to take a record Renegades haul of 5-16.
He had a wicket with his first ball, clean bowling Joe Clarke before snaring Beau Webster with a caught and bowled.
But it was his absolute peach of a delivery that destroyed Stars’ namesake Tom Rogers’ middle peg that set up the Renegades’ 33-run win.
Teammate Sam Harper laughed as he joked teams should try to mankad Rogers more often, given the fiery spell he produced.
“If he’s gonna bowl 140 km/h absolute seams he should get mankaded more often,” he laughed.
“There’s definitely a rivalry between the two teams. I’m more than happy to add to that,” Rogers said.
“We targeted this match as a pretty important one. Coming up against the Stars is a big game first and foremost.”
Tuesday night’s win sees the Renegades lift into third place on the BBL table.
