Ravi Ashwin went were few bowlers dare to go. Photo / Twitter.
Emotions are running high around the cricket world after Kings XI Punjab captain Ravi Ashwin executed a Mankad dismissal in his team's IPL win.
The wicket has sparked friction across the international game — but one image shows even legends of the sport have been caught up in the wrong debate.
Spinner Ashwin took the bails off at the non-striker's end while England batsman Jos Buttler was backing up, with the controversial move overshadowing his side's 14-run victory over Rajasthan — and the IPL return of Aussie Steve Smith.
The term "Mankad" — used when a bowler runs out a non-striker before delivery — was coined 70 years ago when Indian allrounder Vinoo Mankad twice ran out Bill Brown at the bowler's end during India's tour of Australia in 1947.
It is considered to be against cricket's spirit of fair play and Buttler, who scored 69 off 43 deliveries, walked dejectedly back to the pavilion after an argument with the India bowler.
While legends, including Shane Warne and England captain Michael Vaughan, have declared publicly they are affronted by Ashwin's failure to act within the so-called "spirit of the game" — the emotion has simply clouded the issue.
The only debate that matters is whether Rajasthan Royals star English batsman Jos Buttler was guilty of leaving his crease at the non-striker's end in violation of the MCC Laws of Cricket Code.
One image that has been circulated around the cricket world suggests Ashwin doesn't have a leg to stand on in regards to the laws that govern the so-called Mankad.
The freeze frame shows that on simple rules alone — completely independent of those screaming for blood over Ashwin's poor form — Buttler should never have been given out when the decision was sent up to the third umpire.
The photograph below captures the moment Ashwin's front foot has landed after launching into his release action. It shows Buttler clearly has his bat behind the crease at the exact point of release.
In accordance with MCC Law 41.16 — which governs the non-striker leaving his or her ground early — Buttler should never have been given out as he is allowed to leave his crease "when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball".
"If the non-striker is out of his/her ground from the moment the ball comes into play to the instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, the bowler is permitted to attempt to run him/her out," the law states.
"Whether the attempt is successful or not, the ball shall not count as one in the over.
"If the bowler fails in an attempt to run out the non-striker, the umpire shall call and signal dead ball as soon as possible."
The photo has superimposed an old image of Ashwin bowling for India in blue over the top of him bowling for Kings XI Punjab in red. It's designed to show that when Ashwin's front foot landed last night, he would normally be in his delivery stride preparing to let go of the ball.
Buttler is still in his crease at that point and because he would reasonably expect Ashwin to have delivered the ball, under the laws of the game, he should be safe. However, Ashwin didn't let go of the ball as expected and baulked after planting his front foot, sparking the controversy.
Cricket identities have used the image to nail Ashwin.
Looks like Buttler still in his crease while Ravi's pulling a fast one... pic.twitter.com/63jdoMksn4
— Tim Part (@battingtim) March 25, 2019
My interpretation of the Law results in not out. Slow mo doesn’t look to me like Buttler was out of his ground at instant Ashwin would “normally have been expected to release the ball”. So dead ball. Difficulty is, Law relies on judging timing of s’thing that hasn’t happened
— Alison Mitchell (@AlisonMitchell) March 25, 2019
The one thing that troubles me about all this is Ashwin saying it was not planned and I simply cannot see how that was not pre-meditated
— Rick Eyre on cricket (@rickeyrecricket) March 25, 2019
It's the precise wording of Law 41.16 that makes the run-out of Buttler debatable. Having watched it a few times now it seems to me that Buttler was still within his ground, though in motion to leave it, when Ashwin aborted his run-up. pic.twitter.com/LhCLZvkon0
— Rick Eyre on cricket (@rickeyrecricket) March 25, 2019
I usually have no problem with these but in their case Buttler isn’t trying to gain advantage. Questionable act by Ashwin https://t.co/Atn2Ldhld5
— Peter Lalor (@plalor) March 25, 2019
Butler didn’t leave the crease even on delivery stride
— Chris Tremlett (@ChrisTremlett33) March 25, 2019
ASHWIN'S LEFT ARM LOOPHOLE
Unfortunately, the ambiguity of the rule and bizarre bowling action of Ashwin have further clouded the issue.
The video of the action shows that Ashwin never raised his front arm while launching into his delivery.
International cricket legends, led spiritedly by Aussie great Dean Jones, have declared the image above is made redundant because Ashwin was never truly in the act of bowling — as suggested by his left arm never pointing down the pitch.
Ashwin did launch into the air, but critics are claiming Buttler was correctly given out because Ashwin pulled out of his delivery as Buttler was in the motion of following his routine of leaving his crease without keeping his eye on what the bowler was actually doing.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Ashwin said his Mankad was simply instinctive and stressed he did not pre-meditate the dismissal, despite Buttler looming as the danger man that had Ashwin's Punjab side on the ropes early in the run chase.
"Look, it was very instinctive," he said. "On my part, it was very instinctive. It was not planned or anything like that. It's there within the rules of the game. I don't understand where the spirit of the game comes, naturally if it's there in the rules it's there.
"I don't understand the point of sporting or sportive in that point because it's rules. What applies for one man does not apply for everyone else. Neither was Jos Buttler playing there nor was I played so it's very pertinent to just not compare two people."
Jones and Aussie fast-bowling great Jason Gillespie appeared to suggest Buttler was out because he negligently left his crease.
It was the second time he has been dismissed via the controversial Mankad — he was also run out in a similar fashion after two warnings by Sachithra Senanayake while playing against Sri Lanka in 2014.
hi David.. a players responsibility is to know the Laws. The Law states he can legally leave his ground once the ball is at release point. RA was not at that point. JB want watching and crimped . It was ugly. https://t.co/drA340RedM
— Dean Jones AM (@ProfDeano) March 25, 2019
Hi Sally... Ashwin didn’t even get his arm up to deliver the ball. The Law states the NS can leave his ground once the bowler is in position to deliver the ball.. or release . https://t.co/yCiSECo6ht
— Dean Jones AM (@ProfDeano) March 25, 2019
Hi Tom.. my belief is that Ashwin did not even raise his left arm to bowl the ball.. he just stood there. Sorry bud.. my interpretation is out..
— Dean Jones AM (@ProfDeano) March 25, 2019
if he raised his left arm..then you have a point . https://t.co/TxmWQYWzbM
It looked a bit like that didn’t it. https://t.co/qkos2rRGcP
— Dean Jones AM (@ProfDeano) March 25, 2019
Darren.. I agree .. I have said that 100 times now.. but the umpires had to take on the appeal and followed the letter of the Law. https://t.co/BNleRcDpHU
— Dean Jones AM (@ProfDeano) March 25, 2019
The Laws state it’s OUT ... Still doesn’t mean I like it at all ... just think it’s a bad look for the game ... I would prefer a 1 warning rule then after that it’s a free for all ... only my opinion so don’t abuse please ... or you can if you want .. I am not arsed #OnOn #IPL
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) March 25, 2019
If you don’t go over the speed limit in your car, you don’t get pinged by the speed camera....
— Jason Gillespie 🌱 (@dizzy259) March 25, 2019
Nothing in the laws though about warning. Just as there is nothing in the laws about a wicket keeper warning a batsman for being out of the crease and not stumping him https://t.co/OqYypMiRIQ
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 25, 2019
Most cricket legends, however, were simply incensed at Ashwin's decision to go against the spirit of the game.
Aussie legend Warne led the public calls for the BCCI — Indian cricket's governing body — to make a public stand against the dismissal and to suspend Ashwin.
Vaughan said Ashwin's actions were unacceptable.
"If @josbuttler had been warned well that's fine... if he hasn't and it's the first time I think @ashwinravi99 is completely out of order... watch how often this happens from now on," he wrote on Twitter.
Buttler's Rajasthan teammate Jofra Archer, who will soon qualify to play for England, also took to Twitter to express his anger.
Archer wrote of Ashwin: "You show no confidence in yourself or your bowlers to get the job done so you resort to that ? #greatcaptaincy".
And to all the people (including ex players) saying it’s in the laws of the game, but you don’t like what he did & you wouldn’t do it - I ask you this “why wouldn’t you?” ! Simple answer - it’s disgraceful and embarrassing plus it’s against the spirit of the game !
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) March 25, 2019
So disappointed in @ashwinravi99 as a Captain & as a person. All captains sign the #IPL wall & agree to play in the spirit of the game. RA had no intention of delivering the ball - so it should have been called a dead ball. Over to u BCCI - this a not a good look for the #IPL
— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) March 25, 2019
Seriously when TF is the mankad gonna be out of the game!! Everyone hates it. And just looks terrible. Never a good result from it! @IPL @FOXSportsAUS #IPL #mankad
— Cameron Boyce (@CaJBoyce) March 25, 2019
I can’t believe what I’m seeing!! @IPL Terrible example to set for young kids coming through. In time I think Ashwin will regret that.
— Eoin Morgan (@Eoin16) March 25, 2019
If it’s a rule of the game then everyone would do it. A senior player of the world game has set a VERY poor example to the younger generation growing up.
— Chris Tremlett (@ChrisTremlett33) March 25, 2019
Understand you are defensive about one of your players but this was wrong
For the record, Rajasthan lost seven wickets for 16 runs at a crucial moment in the chase to fall 14 runs short of Punjab's total of 185.
Buttler looked to be cruising towards a successful run chase with 69 runs from 43 balls — but that's when Ashwin's dismissal turned the game, and the cricketing world, on its head.
Pier ventured across the Tasman as the winner of four races in New Zealand.