5 concrete reasons Mankading is not against the spirit of cricket
Mankading is something frowned upon in the sport of cricket. The act is committed when a bowler attempts to run out the non-striker before delivering the ball. It is surprising how much vitriol can be generated by an act which seems so simple. There have been instances when a team has been booed as they walk off the field for Mankading the opponent. Even the umpires have been known to ask the fielding captain to reconsider their appeal for a wicket when Mankading. The act has been portrayed as unsportsmanlike and is considered by some to be against the spirit of the sport.In spite of all the controversy generated by the act of Mankading, it still has its place in the sport. And perhaps deservedly so. Here are five reasons why Mankading is definitely not against the spirit of cricket.
#1 It is completely legal
It is a wonder that something which is so explicitly deemed legal in the rule books can be derided to such an extent that people end up questioning the legality of the act. People are often surprised at learning that Mankading has a clearly legal definition, here is how it is defined in the rule books:
'Bowler attempting to run out non-striker before delivery'
The bowler is permitted, before entering his delivery stride, to attempt to run out the non-striker. Whether the attempt is successful or not, the ball shall not count as one of 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.
That surely does not leave any room for misinterpretation.