Why was Angelo Mathews deemed ‘timed out’ against Bangladesh, what is the law behind the dismissal? | Cricket-world-cup News
The 2023 ODI World Cup match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi saw a first in international cricket as all-rounder Angelo Mathews became the first-ever batter to be deemed ‘timed out’.
Mathews, who arrived in to bat after the fall of Sadeera Samarawickrama’s wicket in the 25th over, came in the middle with the wrong helmet – one that had its strap broke – and signaled to the dressing room for a swap. But by the time he’d got the new one, the umpires had deemed him timed out since he wasn’t ready to face the first ball in the stipulated time.
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Per clause 40.1.1 in the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), “After the fall of a wicket or the retirement of a batter, the incoming batter must, unless Time has been called, be ready to receive the ball, or for the other batter to be ready to receive the next ball within 3 minutes of the dismissal or retirement. If this requirement is not met, the incoming batter will be out, Timed out.” However, per the ICC ODI World Cup playing conditions, the stipulated time is under two minutes instead of three.
Furthermore, “In the event of an extended delay in which no batter comes to the wicket, the umpires shall adopt the procedure of Law 16.3 (Umpires awarding a match).” In other words, deem the batter dismissed.
While Mathews was dismissed in the over being bowled by Shakib Al Hasan, in the event of a timed out dismissal, the bowler doesn’t get the credit for the same. The Bangladesh skipper was also animated exchanges with Mathews, who’d walk off the field fuming at the decision.
While the call by the umpires is well within the laws, it has created a discourse given the fact that Mathews’ helmet was faulty and may have led to an injury.
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Fourth official clarifies why Mathews was given out
Adrian Holdstock, the fourth official, issued a clarification on Mathews’s dismissal during the innings break.
“The ICC World Cup Playing Conditions supersede the MCC Laws of Cricket. When it comes to timed out, at a fall of wicket or even a retirement of a batsman, the incoming batter has to be in position and ready to receive the ball within two minutes or his other partner to receive the ball in two minutes. We have certain protocols here within the PCT where the TV umpire at the fall of a wicket, he basically monitors the two minutes and he’ll then relay the message through to the on-field umpires. In the instance this afternoon, the batter wasn’t ready to receive the ball within those two minutes even before the strap became an issue for him,” said Holdstock.
When asked who had initiated the appeal, Holdstock said: “In the Playing Conditions, the fielding captain requested or initiated the appeal to Marais Erasmus who was the standing umpire that he wanted to appeal for timed out. Just after the strap came loose, the fielding captain can basically request to appeal for a timed out.”
Holdstock also answered why no discretion was used for equipment malfunction.
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“I think, as a batsman, you need to make sure that you have all your equipment in place in order to make sure you get here because you actually have to be ready to receive the ball within two minutes, not ready to prepare or take your guard. Technically, you should be there within 50 seconds to make sure all those things are in place before you actually receive the ball.”
“Absolutely pathetic what happened in Delhi today!” former India batter Gautam Gambhir wrote on the matter via his Twitter account.
“If I was Shakib, I would not have appealed as a captain and I would have broken more than just a helmet if I was Angelo Mathews,” wrote S Badrinath after the Sri Lankan all-rounder was seen throwing his helmet as he walked by the dugout following his dismissal.