Mathews Reacts to Timed-Out Dismissal: ‘Unprecedented Act of Poor Sportsmanship by Team or Player’

In a World Cup match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Angelo Mathews found himself etched in history for an unexpected reason, much to his chagrin. The seasoned Sri Lankan all-rounder became the first player in international cricket, across genders, to fall victim to the rarely invoked “timed out” law.

The clash unfolded after Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bowl first. The pivotal moment occurred in the 25th over of Sri Lanka’s innings. Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan had just dismissed Sadeera Samarawickrama, who had contributed a solid 41 runs in 42 balls. Mathews, batting at No.6, took his time entering the field. Upon reaching the crease, he noticed a broken strap on his helmet, signaling the need for a replacement from the Sri Lankan dressing room. Capitalizing on the moment, Shakib initiated a light-hearted chat with umpire Marais Erasmus, cheekily inquiring, “How was that? Officially, I am asking.” This friendly banter triggered an extended dialogue involving Mathews, the umpires, and the Bangladesh players, culminating in a visibly perplexed Mathews exiting the field.

Mathews Reaction:

Mathews disagreed with Shakib statements, and claimed that he was ready before the timer had run out. “I have two minutes to get to the crease and get myself ready, which I did,” Mathews said. “And then it was an equipment malfunction.

The Law Behind the Unusual Dismissal

While the “timed out” rule has sporadically surfaced in domestic cricket globally, this incident marked its debut in international cricket history. The International Cricket Council (ICC) promptly released a statement, outlining the tournament’s playing conditions related to this rare dismissal. According to the rule (40.1.1), after a wicket falls or a batter retires, the incoming batter must be ready to face the ball within two minutes, unless a timeout is called. Failure to meet this requirement results in the incoming batter being declared “Timed out.” This slight deviation from the MCC’s three-minute provision for other international matches added a unique twist to the unfolding drama.

Also as per rule (40.1.2) 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).  For the purposes of that Law the start of the action shall be taken as the expiry of the 3 minutes referred to above.

What did you make of Angelo Mathews’ ‘Timed Out’ dismissal? #BANvsSL pic.twitter.com/o49n17qApc

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) November 6, 2023

“I don’t know if it’s right or wrong, but I felt like I was at war”

Shakib Al Hasan shares why he appealed for the unprecedented Angelo Mathews timed out dismissal #BANvSL #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/uAS8MfF62R

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) November 6, 2023

Sri Lanka eventually concluded their innings at 279 runs in 49.3 overs, with Charith Asalanka delivering an impressive performance, scoring 108 off 105 balls. Reflecting on the unusual dismissal, Asalanka remarked, “Mathews’ dismissal, while within the rules, didn’t align with the spirit of cricket.” The incident, though a historic first, left players and fans contemplating the fine balance between adherence to rules and the essence of fair play.

Dismissals in Test cricket matches

No Test cricket batter has faced a “timed out” dismissal as of November 2023, but certain incidents hint at the possibility:

• In the 2006–2007 India vs. South Africa series at Cape Town’s Newlands Cricket Ground, a unique situation unfolded. Sachin Tendulkar, slated as the fourth batter, faced a delay due to a fielding replacement. Sourav Ganguly eventually took the crease after confusion in the Indian dressing room. South African captain Graeme Smith refrained from appealing for a “timed out” dismissal, considering the ambiguous information given by the match referee regarding Tendulkar’s brief suspension.
• In the 2023 Ashes series’ second Test, Australian player Nathan Lyon, dealing with a calf injury, strategically positioned himself closer to the field during the Australian second innings to avoid the risk of a time-out dismissal. Lyon, with a hobble, safely entered the ground within the stipulated time, scoring 4 runs before being dismissed, with his partner adding 11 more.

Dismissals in First-class cricket matches

1. Andrew Jordaan – Eastern Province v Transvaal at Port Elizabeth in 1987–88 – Not out overnight, Jordaan was prevented from reaching the ground by flooded roads the following day.
2. Hemulal Yadav – Tripura v Orissa at Cuttack in 1997–98 – Yadav was in conversation with his team manager on the boundary and did not attempt to reach the crease.
3. Vasbert Drakes – Border v Free State at East London in 2002 – Drakes was still on his way to the match by aeroplane from his native West Indies when he was due to bat.
4. AJ Harris – Nottinghamshire v Durham UCCE at Nottingham in 2003 – Harris was suffering from a groin strain and took too long to walk to the crease and was given out on appeal.
5. Ryan Austin – Combined Campuses and Colleges v Windward Islands at Kingstown, St Vincent in 2013–14 – Austin, the number 11 batter, failed to reach the crease in the requisite amount of time.
6. Charles Kunje – Matabeleland Tuskers v Mountaineers at Bulawayo in 2017-18.

Note: Source of information – Wikipedia

Unusual dismissals in world cricket

In Test Matches

In ODI Cricket

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