MCC amends Law regarding Mankading

Considering multiple attempts of Mankading at both the youth and senior levels of cricket in 2023, Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has clarified how its Law 38.3, which deals with a bowler running a non-striker out and is popularly known as Mankading, should be interpreted.

To eliminate the “ambiguity” caused by incidents like Adam Zampa’s unsuccessful effort to dismiss Tom Rogers through mankading in a recent Big Bash match, the Marylebone Cricket Club has amended the law governing non-strikers leaving their ground early.

In the final over of the Melbourne Renegades’ inning at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on January 3, 2023, Adam Zampa, the captain of the Melbourne Stars, pulled out of his bowling action and dislodged the bails at the non-striker’s end. The on-field umpire sent it upstairs for the third umpire to analyze and announce his decision. However, Shawn Craig, the TV umpire, denied his appeal for a run-out against Rogers because his bowling arm had already passed the verticle, or the point at which he would “normally have been expected to release the ball.”

The MCC clarified that the point at which the ball comes into play has historically been defined as “the highest point in that bowler’s action” in a statement they released shortly after the incident, indicating that the umpire’s assessment had been accurate.

New Law of MCC: 

The new MCC Law 38.3.1 states that, “At any time from the moment the ball comes into play, until the instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, the non-striker is liable to be run out if he/she is out of his/her ground.” In these circumstances, the non-striker will be out if he/she is out of his/her ground when his/her wicket is put down by the bowler throwing the ball at the stumps or by the bowler’s hand holding the ball, whether or not the ball is subsequently delivered.

Briefing on the instance of a bowler releasing the ball, Law 38.3.1.1 states, “The instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball is defined as the moment the bowler’s arm reaches the highest point of his or her normal bowling action in the delivery swing.”

The “bowler’s release point” and the phrase “usually expected to release the ball” were the two terms that caused the biggest ambiguity in the prior regulation. According to the amendment passed by the lawmaking body, the highest point of the release will occur “when the bowler would normally have been anticipated to release the ball.” In Zampa’s example, the leg-spinner had completed the initial circular motion and was ready to deliver the ball when he saw Rogers leave the crease. As a result, he stopped in mid-stride and ran Rogers out.

The revised Law 38.3.1.2 now states: “Even if the non-striker had left his or her ground before the instant at which the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, it is no longer possible for the bowler to run out the non-striker under this Law once the bowler has reached that point.”

MCC’s statement regarding the functioning of Law 38.3: 

MCC reaffirmed in a statement that went along with it that the law had been interpreted “consistently for some time” and that “the umpires were correct in their decision.”

“However, we note that although players and umpires have typically understood this law well, there is ambiguity in the phrasing that could cause confusion.”

MCC has taken action to rephrase Law 38.3 in order to provide better clarity. The current wording caused some to believe that the run out may occur at any time, even after the bowler had completed the bowling action and if the non-striker departed from his or her position before the anticipated point of release. Both the law’s intent and the MCC’s interpretation of it indicate such was never the case.

It is significant to highlight that this does not alter the way the law should be understood. This interpretation has been implemented for the past six years with little confusion. However, it is hoped that this will clarify things.

Hence, from now on, if the bowler affects a non-striker run-out after reaching the highest point of the release, the decision would stand as not out. The bowler can run the batter at the non-striker’s end out from the point when the ball comes into play (the start of the run-up), till his/her highest release point.

This becomes law and comes into immediate effect on January 19, 2023.