Cricket news | Adam Zampa triggers rule clarification after Big Bash League Mankad controversy
Cricket’s rule book regulators have moved to clarify the laws of the game after Adam Zampa’s Mankad attempt in the Big Bash League.
The Melbourne Stars captain lit a fuse when he attempted to run-out non-striker Melbourne Renegades batter Tom Rogers.
Zampa stopped midway through his bowling action while Rogers was out of the crease.
LIVE UPDATES: Australian Open 2023 day five highlights
READ MORE: Murray claims marathon 4am win against Kokkinakis
READ MORE: Murray slams ‘disrespectful’ Open ‘farce’
The run-out attempt was referred to the third umpire and it was decided that because Zampa’s arm had reached the highest point of his action that Rogers could not be given out.
Such was the controversy surrounding the run-out attempt that the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which is charged with controlling the sport’s rules, issued a statement.
It reaffirmed that “the point at which the bowler would normally been expected to release the ball has long been defined by MCC as the highest point in that bowler’s action”
The previous law read, “If the non-striker is out of his/her ground at any time from the moment the ball comes into play until the instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, the non-striker is liable to be run out.”
The MCC confirmed match officials had made the right call in that instance.
However, the rule book writers have since said that interpretations of the rule allow for some ambiguity and confusion, moving to clarify by issuing an update to the law.
“The current wording led some to think that if the non-striker left his/her ground before the expected moment of release, then the run out could happen at any moment, even after the bowler had gone through the bowling action,” the MCC said in a statement.
“That was never the intention of this law, nor the way it was ever interpreted by MCC.
“It is important to note that this does not change the way the law should be interpreted,
“It has been interpreted that way for the past six years, without much misunderstanding.
“However, the intention is that this will make things clearer.”
The MCC has issued an update to Law 38.3 (see below), which is effective immediately.
Mankad run-outs have been a hot top in world cricket, even at the highest level.
There were unusual scenes when India skipper Rohit Sharma withdrew a Mankad run-out on Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka.
Shanaka was on 98 when he was run-out by Mohammed Shami, but was called back by Sharma.
Shanaka went on to make an unbeaten 108 while Sharma was praised for withdrawing the appeal.
Law 38.3 (Updated):
38.3.1 At any time from the moment the ball comes into play until the instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, the non-striker is liable to be Run out if he/she is out of his/her ground. In these circumstances the non-striker will be out Run out if he/she is out of his/her ground when his/her wicket is put down by the bowler throwing the ball at the stumps or by the bowler’s hand holding the ball, whether or not the ball is subsequently delivered.
38.3.1.1 The instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball is defined as the moment the bowler’s arm reaches the highest point of his/her normal bowling action in the delivery swing.
38.3.1.2 Even if the non-striker had left his/her ground before the instant at which the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, once the bowler has reached that point it is no longer possible for the bowler to run out the non-striker under this Law.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!
How well do you remember the biggest sporting moments of 2022?
