Australia pacer Mitchell Starc got a mixed reaction on social media for issuing a Mankad warning to Sri Lanka batter Kusal Perera during their ODI World Cup 2023 match between two teams at the Ekana Sports Stadium in Lucknow on Monday.
In an eventful opening over of the match, Starc spotted the non-striker Perera attempting to get a head start as he approached the crease. On his fourth delivery of the over, Starc pulled up and gave an early ‘Mankad’ warning, saying ‘don’t leave your crease’.
Australian quick Mitchell Starc has given Sri Lankan opening batsmen Kusal Perera an early ‘Mankad’ warning, stopping his bowling action after his opponent left his crease prematurely.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain, who was on commentary during that moment, explained that Starc had previously told the umpire he had seen Perera advancing down the crease.
“After the first ball Starc had a little word with the umpire, Kusal Perera just leaving his crease… he was saying to Kusal Perera ‘don’t leave your crease,” Hussain said.
“That’s fair enough, he’s told the umpire now he’s told the batter, stay in your crease at that end… a very eventful first over,” he added.
Later in the last ball of the third over, Starc once again stopped as he charged in for the last ball of his third over but Perera seemingly remained in his crease. The batter went on to score 78 runs off 82 balls as Sri Lanka made 209.
Notably, the ‘Mankad’ is a controversial dismissal dating back to 1948 when India bowlwr Vinoo Mankad ran out Australia batsman Bill Brown in a Sydney Test. Since then the dismissal has ignited fierce debate from time to time among fans, cricketers and experts.
However, the Marylebone Cricket Club amended the Laws of Cricket last year and running out the non-striker during a bowler’s delivery stride has become an accepted practice.
Meanwhile, the whole incident divided people on social media. While some are praising Starc for giving the warning to the batter before attempting the Mankading, a section of the fans said the Aussie pacer should have run out Perera without giving the warning.
“Scenes would have been different if there was Ashwin as bowler. Mitchell Starc need to follow the rules of Cricket,” wrote one fan on Twitter, now known as X.
‘Starc shouldn’t have given a warning,’ one fan posted
‘Just take the bl**dy bails off instead of virtue signalling. Win the game, not some brownie points over a hypothetical ‘spirit’ of the game,” wrote another user.
“Much to learn for Afghanistan’s pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi and the likes of him who would rely on Mankad instead of their bowling skills! Starc is special. Thank you for upholding the dignity of the game,” posted another fan.
“Starc showed some Grace and didn’t mankad.. ,” another user wrote.
Coming to the match, Australia lost early wickets but Josh Inglis and Marnus Labuschagne have given some stability to the team’s batting order. This game is very important for the five-time World Cup champions after losing the first two matches of the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 in India.