If you are a cricket lover and don’t know what “A Mankad” or what “Mankading” is, we’ll just have moment’s silence for your ignorance and then proceed to dispel the darkness of your ignorance. Read on to know all about the Mankad so you too can join in heated discussions about the game and offer your two bits along with all the other worthies when this obscure but interesting cricket technicality is called into question.
It is a type of cricket dismissal
Among the many ways that a player can get out in a game of cricket, the Mankad is one. It is one of the more arcane forms of dismissal such as obscuring the field, handling the ball, hit wicket, hitting the ball twice or timing out. (You don’t know about those either? Sigh!)
It is a type of dismissal rather like a run out
It is actually a run out of sorts: the non striker batsman is run out by the bowler knocking off the bails as the non striker backs out of the crease in preparation to take a run. Here’s what happens:
Yes it refers to Vinoo Mankad
Legendary Indian all rounder Vinoo Mankad was the first to do a “Mankad”. When India toured Australia in 1947/48, he ran out Bill Brown as he was backing out of his crease during the second test. This infuriated the Aussie media and the term “Mankading” came into being.
Is Mankading Legit or Illegit?
WHY DOES THE BENEFIT ALWAYS HAVE TO GO TO THE BATSMAN!! OK I won’t shout anymore, but you get my point right?
Mankading is back
The Mankad is legal and under the 2011 ICC Playing Conditions it is a recognised form of dismissing a batsman. It is legal for test matches, ODIs and T20s internationals as well.
Mankading is in the news
In the recently concluded Under-19 World Cup, West Indian bowler Keemo Paul claimed the wicket of Zimbabwean player Richard Ngarava via a Mankad. The fact that only three runs were needed from the last over for the Zimbabwe team to win the game that the Zimbabweans ultimately lost focused attention anew on the Mankad.
The West Indians went on to defeat India in the finals and the Zimbabweans were left to mull on the Mankad at their leisure.
Author – Reena Daruwalla
