Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews was controversially timed out in a first for international cricket during the World Cup clash against Bangladesh in Delhi.
Mathews was unhappy with the strap on his helmet and not ready to face his first delivery after coming in at No 6 for Sri Lanka in Monday’s match.
Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan appealed for the batter’s wicket and Mathews was subsequently given his marching orders in a remarkable moment.
The MCC Laws say a batter must be ready to face the first delivery within three minutes but the playing conditions for this tournament stipulate that it is two minutes, which was perhaps the cause of confusion.
With Shakib choosing not to withdraw his appeal, a fuming Mathews was dismissed, chucking his helmet to the floor in rage after leaving the pitch.
What do the MCC Laws say?
40.1 Out Timed out
40.1.1 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.
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.
40.2 Bowler does not get credit
The bowler does not get credit for the wicket
Players timed out in first-class cricket
Andrew Jordaan – Eastern Province vs Transvaal 1987/88.
Hemulal Yadav – Tripura vs Orissa, 1997
Vasbert Drakes – Border vs Free State, 2002
AJ Harris – Nottinghamshire vs Durham UCCE, 2003
Ryan Austin – Combined Campuses and Colleges vs Windward Islands, 2013
Charles Kunje – Matabeleland Tuskers vs Mountaineers, 2017/18.