Cricket NSW boss Lee Germon has implored cricketers and fans of the game to accept that a “Mankad” is a legitimate form of dismissal in a bid to prevent animosity and issues at lower levels of the game.
It comes as Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley called for greater “clarity and consistency” when it came to the game’s most controversial rule that involves a run-out by the bowler at the non-striker’s end before the ball has been delivered.
NSW spinner Adam Zampa, who plays for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash, caused a stir on Tuesday evening by attempting to run-out Melbourne Renegades all-rounder Tom Rogers using a Mankad dismissal.
Zampa didn’t execute the dismissal properly, meaning Rogers was able to continue batting at the death of his side’s innings.
The Australian representative has said he probably wouldn’t have followed through with it had it been during a critical moment of the match.
Stars coach Dave Hussey voiced his displeasure at Zampa’s attempted ‘Mankad’, saying it was “not the right way to play cricket”.
The Zampa and Rogers incident has once again opened one of cricket’s biggest can of worms.
It prompted Cricket NSW to release an unexpected and unprecedented public statement on Thursday, calling for the abolition of the name “Mankad” and to understand that it is, according to Germon, a “fair and legal” dismissal that deters batters from edging out of their crease trying to steal a quick single.
New Cricket NSW CEO Lee Germon.
“I hope we can all be better in this area moving forward,” Germon said. “The pressure placed on match officials, most of whom are wonderful volunteers, to deal with something that evokes so much emotion is unnecessary. The law is clear and we want the officials to feel supported in knowing that and not be pressured by an outdated school of thought.
“It has been 75 years since Vinoo Mankad twice ran out Australian Bill Brown, drawing the ire of some in the game.
“Mankad has been vilified ever since, but for what? He carried out a legitimate act to dismiss a batter who was trying to gain an unfair advantage. Even the great Sir Donald Bradman has said there was nothing wrong with what Vinoo Mankad did.”
Germon also referenced a column written by esteemed Age columnist Greg Baum calling for the dismissal to be widely accepted.
Asked why he felt the need to put out a public statement, Germon told the Herald and The Age that it was causing angst at lower levels.
“The driver [for the statement] is we wanted to support them and let them know this is a legitimate form of dismissal rather than create arguments on the sideline between groups of parents and coaches,” Germon said. “We’re aware this is a situation that has occurred in community cricket and underage cricket.
“It’s become more prevalent. I’m supportive at the top-end for technology and I think the biggest deterrent will be once you start taking runs off the batting team, like a one short, that then filters down to our kids.”
Germon’s CA counterpart, Hockley, wasn’t as strong on the subject when quizzed about it on SEN Radio but certainly agreed the rule book needed to be upheld.
Hockley said he would support an Australian player if such a dismissal occurred in an international match.
“The main thing is that there is clarity and consistency,” Hockley said on SEN Radio. “The rules are the rules but there’s also the spirit of the game. At the moment, there’s probably a little bit of confusion.
“The global discussion needs to be let’s stick by the rules and then everyone is absolutely clear. The batter needs to keep their ground. I think the rules could not be clearer.
“I think that conversations need to lead to a place where there is consistency, no confusion and it becomes a legitimate dismissal.”
