Share

Clarke backs 'Mankad' rule

Sydney - Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke on Wednesday said he had no problem with a controversial run out rule that marred the fifth and final one-day international between England and Sri Lanka.

His England counterpart Alastair Cook insisted a "line had been crossed" after Sachithra Senanayake ran out England's Jos Buttler as the non-striker backed up at Edgbaston on Tuesday.

But Clarke said the dismissal was in the rules.

"At the end of the day I think as long as the player's warned it's obviously in the rules so you can make whatever decision you want," he said.

"Will an Australian player do it? I think I'd be silly to stand here and say, 'No, it will never happen under my captaincy'.

"If something like that does happen under my captaincy I look forward to dealing with it at the time," he added.

"At the end of the day it's in the rules."

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews, asked by the umpires if he wanted to uphold what was a legitimate appeal, did not call Buttler back and the wicketkeeper was out for 21.

Sri Lanka went on to beat England by six wickets and clinch a 3-2 series victory.

Cook said he had never seen it before in a game.

"I was pretty disappointed with it to be honest with you. You don't know what you'd do if you were put in that situation, the heat of the moment, until you are. I'd hope I wouldn't do it," he said.

It was only the eighth reported instance of a batsman being run out backing up in an international match and the first since South Africa's Peter Kirsten was dismissed by India's Kapil Dev in 1992/93.

Even though 'Mankading', the term coined after India's Vinoo Mankad ran out Australia non-striker Bill Brown during the 1947/48 Sydney Test, remains a legitimate dismissal, some regard it as against the 'spirit of cricket'.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should the Proteas pick Faf du Plessis for the T20 World Cup in West Indies and the United States in June?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Faf still has a lot to give ...
65% - 482 votes
No! It's time to move on ...
35% - 264 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE