Cricket NSW has labelled the ‘Mankad’ run out dismissal both “legal and ethical” in defence of Adam Zampa’s controversial BBL run-out attempt.
Zampa, who made the move back to the NSW Blues in 2020, attempted to ‘Mankad’ Renegades seamer Tom Rogers in the Melbourne derby and was met with a wave of boos from the MCG crowd.
The 30-year-old said he believed he was “well within my right” to attempt the run-out but on review his arm had “gone past the vertical” meaning Rogers was given not out.
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Now Cricket NSW have gone into bat for the international spinner and labelled the ‘Mankad’ a “legitimate means of dismissal under the laws of cricket, despite opposition from some who consider it ‘not in the spirit of the game’.”
CNSW CEO Lee Germon, who played 12 Tests for New Zealand, believes supporting the ‘Mankad’ forces players to uphold the laws of the game.
“For a bowler to run out a batter who is trying to gain an unfair advantage by leaving the crease before the ball has been delivered is both fair and legal,” Germon said in a statement.
“There are no two ways about it, and we want our players, match officials and volunteers to know that they have our full support in upholding the laws of cricket, in this and every other instance.
“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“The law is clear and we want the officials to feel supported in knowing that and not be pressured by an outdated school of thought.
Germon also referenced the SMH’s Greg Baum who also supported the method of dismissal.
“Journalist Greg Baum today wrote, ‘If anything, it is the nonstriker who comes nearer to infringing the spirit of cricket in a Mankad. He’s daring the law. The bowler is upholding it’ and I couldn’t agree more,” Gerson said.
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The method of dismissal was famously dubbed a “Mankad” after Indian bowler Vinoo Mankad ran out Australia batsman Bill Brown in the 1948 Sydney Test.
Germon also slammed the use of the phrase ‘Mankad’ and referred to Sir Donald Bradman’s own thoughts on the dismissal.
“It has been 75-years since Vinoo Mankad twice ran out Australian Bill Brown, drawing the ire of some in the game,” Germon said.
“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.
“We now know this also conjures up a negative experience for many people and cricketers of Indian heritage. It is unfair and needs to stop.
“If I refer again to Greg Baum, he wrote, ‘Mankading needs to be accepted as one of many right ways to play cricket. To destigmatise it, it might help to depersonalise it.’
“I hope we can all be better in this area moving forward, inspiring more people to play and love cricket.”
