New Delhi: Sri Lanka batter Angelo Mathews became the first batter in the history of international cricket to be dismissed by ‘Timed Out’. The incident happened on the 25th over as Mathews didn’t face a single ball before returning to the dressing room. The veteran batter had just walked in after the dismissal of Sadeera Samarawickrama. He came with a wrong helmet and was having issues adjusting it. He asked for a correct helmet and by the time the substitute came in with it, Bangladesh players appealed for a timed-out.
Although Mathews tried to explain the situation to the umpires, the officials went by the rules and gave him out. Had Bangladesh withdrawn their appeal, Mathews would have stayed. As a result, Mathews was out for a duck and he didn’t face a ball. However, no bowler will be given credit for Mathews’ wicket.
According to Cricket World Cup 2023 rules and regulations, a batter has maximum two minutes to face the first ball after the previous batter is dismissed. “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 2 minutes of the dismissal or retirement. If this requirement is not met, the incoming batter will be out, Timed out,” read World Cup playing conditions.
Former West Indies cricketer Ian Bishop claimed on air that Mathews’ helmet strap broke and asked for a change in helmet. However, former Pakistan pacer Waqar Younis wasn’t happy with this decision and called it against the spirit of cricket.
Dramatic scenes in Delhi with Angelo Mathews becoming the first batter to be timed out in international cricket
Details https://t.co/F3ouVSKFAf#BANvSL #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/M4KRimgtDZ
— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) November 6, 2023
But since it is in the cricket rule book and Bangladesh have every right to call for it, the on-field officials – Marais Erasmus and Richard Illingworth – had to give Mathews out. Though it has never happened in international cricket, there have been instances in domestic cricket, including one in the match between Tripura and Orissa at Cuttack in 1997 when Hemulal Yadav was at the receiving end.
40.1 Out Timed out (WHAT DOES MCC RULE SAY)
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 the other batter must 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 three minutes referred to above.
