MCC declare Mankading legitimate and fair

England’s Jos Buttler (centre) was Mankaded by Sri Lanka’s Sachithra Senanayake during the ODI series in England recently.

Agencies/London

 The controversial Mankad method of dismissal, which dominated the headlines during the Sri Lanka ODI series in England recently, has been deemed fair and legitimate by the Marylebone Cricket Club, who uphold cricket’s laws.

The MCC, at their recent meeting that included cricketing greats like Steve Waugh, Mike Brearley and Rahul Dravid, deemed Jos Buttler’s dismissal by Sachithra Senanayake perfectly fair, saying Buttler was at fault.

At the time, England were furious that Buttler had been run out at the non-striker’s end by the bowler before delivery, but it was legal, and Buttler had been warned more than once for back up too far. The MCC deemed Buttler to be trying to gain an unfair advantage, and added that it was not required for the fielding captain to withdraw the appeal, or even warn the batsman at all. They said Mankading did not contravene the mythical ‘Spirit of Cricket’.

The MCC said: “The unanimous view of the committee was that if the non-striker is out of his ground earlier than allowed in either the Laws of Cricket or the International Playing Conditions, then he can have no complaints should he be dismissed in this manner.

“Furthermore, the committee believes it was not against the Spirit of Cricket to uphold such an appeal, and urges batsmen to ensure they do not try to gain an unfair advantage by moving out of their crease before the appropriate time.”

Ballance warned after drunken photo surfaces

England batsman Gary Ballance is in a bit of slightly warm water after being photographed in a drunken state in a nightclub, after the first Test against India ended in a draw.The number three, who scored a half ton in the match, was seen at Pandora’s Box on the night of day five, holding a beer and dancing with his shirt off. He has not been punished by the ECB though, and his place is not at risk.

An eye witness was quoted as saying, in the Telegraph: “They had to carry him out at the end of the night. He was standing outside with his top off screaming, “England!, England! England!’”

Coach Peter Moores said Ballance had not done anything wrong, really, but had been warned about upholding England’s name in public: “I am aware that some of the England players were caught on camera relaxing after the conclusion of Trent Bridge Test. As the players had been released at the end of the first Test and were not due to meet up to begin preparations for the second Test until Monday evening, and there were no suggestions of impropriety there is no need for any disciplinary action. “I will however be reminding all players of their responsibilities to uphold the best possible image for England cricket.”

Mithali Raj to lead Indian women in England

Mithali Raj will skipper the Indian women’s cricket team which will tour England in August to play a four-day Test match and three One-Day Internationals (ODI).

Wicketkeeper Karuna Jain has been named the vice-captain of the 15-member squad by  All-India Senior Women’s Selection Committee.

The squad: Mithali Raj (Captain), Karuna Jain (vice-captain), Smriti Mandhana, M.D. Thirushkamini, Punam Raut, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jhulan Goswami, Niranjana N., Shubhlakshmi Sharma, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Ekta Bisht, Poonam Yadav, Swagathika Rath, Vanitha V.R., Sushma Verma. Caoch: Sudha Shah (Coach)