Debate over Mankading

FOR: Stop hypocrisy called 'spirit' of game

It looks like Jos Buttler has not learnt from past mistakes. Monday's incident of him 'Mankaded' by Ravichandran Ashwin has split the cricketing world whether Kings XI Punjab captain was right in running out the batsman.

Buttler was Mankaded out once before in an ODI against Sri Lanka by another off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake that was well within the Laws of Cricket. Less than five years since that incident, the England wicketkeeper-batsman once again chose to take unfair advantage of backing up before the bowler could deliver the ball and steal a run.

A well-read cricketer, Ashwin is abreast with the laws of the game that was revised last year. He was well within the laws of the game to run the non-striker out. While many may have perceived it as not a pleasant sight to watch, having a negative influence on youngsters taking to the game and not within the spirit of the game, what Ashwin did was not wrong.

In today's highly competitive world of sport, there is no room for being nice to the opposition. The legendary Kapil Dev warned South African Peter Kirsten not once, not twice but thrice before Mankading him in an ODI in 1992-93. And even then he copped a lot of criticism.

And, while the bowler is not required to warn the non-striker for backing up too far before Mankading him out, most bowlers still follow this approach before Mankading the non-striker who pays no heed to the warnings. That Ashwin did not warn Buttler does not make the KXIP captain any villain.

As it is, the limited-overs cricket is heavily loaded in favour of the batsmen. Low-scoring matches, like the one in this year's inaugural match between Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore are not what the spectators want.

They want to see the batsmen hit sixes aplenty and shatter the bowlers' confidence. It is as if the bowlers are there to throw the ball for the batsmen to hit them out of the ground.

And on top of that, you have players like Buttler taking unfair advantage by backing up before the ball is delivered, and so much hue and cry is made when he is intelligently Mankaded by Ashwin. The couple of extra steps gained unfairly by backing up could make a difference in the batsman being run out or not while going for a run. Isn't the bowling team at the receiving end, then?

Often the Spirit of Cricket crops up when there is an incident of Mankading. The term Spirit of Cricket is used so loosely today that people abide by it as per their convenience. Whenever it suits them and the team, the Spirit of Cricket is applied. At other times, it is conveniently swept under the carpet even if the act was well withing the laws.

How often do we see batsmen walking after nicking? Where is the Spirit of Cricket there? The umpire is there to make a decision and as the Law says, "Accept the umpire's decision".

If Buttler is ruled out by ICC Elite Panel umpire, he had to accept the decision and simply walk without creating a scene. Was it within the spirit of cricket when he stood for few extra seconds and showed his disappointment even after the giant screen displayed that he is 'OUT'?

If there is a rule book and some of the greatest minds of the sport are framing the laws, then players should respect it. If something is against the spirit of the game, then it should be banned. If something is according to rules, then we should stop bringing up the spirit of the game argument.

It is high time we stop this hypocrisy associated with 'Mankading' and also put an end to berating players who play according to rules.

Against: Role models should show sportsman's spirit

Ask any cricket tragic about Courtney Walsh and majority of them, if not all, will recall the moment when the West Indian refused to 'Mankad' out Pakistan batsman Saleem Jaffer in the 1987 World Cup, an act that cost his team a place in the semifinal.

It is considered as one of the biggest examples of sportsman's spirit shown in the game. The ever-smiling Caribbean pacer showed what exactly cricket stands for.

Kings XI Punjab captain Ravichandran Ashwin has brought into focus once again the infamous 'Mankaded' when he ran out Rajasthan Royals' Jos Buttler. It changed the course of the match and the former won.

Modern day cricket is a far cry from its origin as a leisurely pastime for the English gentlemen. It has become a professional sport. Much like in love and war, everything now appears to be seemingly fair in cricket.

However, 'Mankaded' has survived, not in the rule books but in the hearts of most cricketers, as a representative of the spirit in which the sport is supposed to be played.

Of course, it is wrong on the batsman's part to steal a couple of yards of advantage and take quick singles or convert ones into twos. And that's where the warnings come in. Many cricketers have 'Mankaded' out batsmen after pointing out that they are stepping outside the crease. This appears to be a fair call.

The reason why 'Mankading' is associated with the spirit of the game is the lack of a battle between the bat and the ball. Except timed out, most other dismissals involve a contest. Ball beating the bat, or a fielder taking a spectacular catch or showing he is quicker than a running batsman and can aim perfectly etc.

There is that action, that drama that every paying public deserves to watch. Mankading is like kicking a man when he is down during a fair fight — not illegal but frowned upon. The ball is not even bowled and a batsman is run out. This is an anti-climax.

Sometimes, sport is not just about winning. Many times we see athletes give up their advantage to help an injured runner cross the finish line. Footballers regularly kick the ball out of play when they see a player injured even if it is their opponent.

Take Bodyline bowling for instance. The near-lethal bowling that England's Douglas Jardine planned to counter Aussie great Don Bradman was well within rules.

But despite the body blows, when Jardine forced an injured Harold Larwood to bowl, and the bowler just managed to roll a delivery to Bradman, he just blocked it with a defensive shot.

And in 2011, the then India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni recalled England batsman Ian Bell, batting at 137, who was run out in a controversial way. England won the match by 319 runs, but Dhoni is still remembered for playing that match in the right spirit.

Whether justified or not, sports is one place where youngsters find their role models. And when a cricketer throws a rule book to face, it is bound to spiral into total lack of spirit.

Ashwin has been one of the most respected cricketers in the world for not just his success but for his astute knowledge of the game. However, Monday night's incident will most probably decide the way he will be remembered.

In 2012, Ashwin had Mankaded out Sri Lanka's Lahiru Thirimanne but stand-in captain Virender Sehwag withdrew the appeal saying it is against the spirit of the game and Sri Lanka went on to win the match.

On Monday night, KXIP ended up winners and Ashwin termed his action instinctive. Don't be surprised if 'Mankading' becomes a norm. In the era of win-at-all-cost, sportsman's spirit will hear its death knell.

And only time will tell Ashwin whether going by his instincts was worth the result.