Warner sees 'Mankad' as spirit of cricket issue despite change

Despite this week's ruling by cricket's laws' custodian that the run out of batters backing up too far is no longer deemed 'unfair play', David Warner maintains the act that became known as a 'Mankad' remains outside the game's spirit.

Warner famously and wordlessly made his views known on the controversial practice two weeks after India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin had ignited another debate about the tactic's legitimacy (or otherwise) by dismissing England's Jos Buttler in an Indian Premier League fixture in 2019.

Ashwin had stopped as he prepared to deliver a ball for Kings XI Punjab against Rajasthan Royals and removed the bowler's end bails with Buttler having walked out of his crease, an act that provoked outrage among former players ranging from "completely out of order" to "disgraceful".

When Warner's Sunrisers Hyderabad came up against Kings XI two weeks later, the Australian made an exaggerated point of keeping his bat safely behind the crease line as Ashwin sent down his opening delivery, further fanning the controversy.

But with this week's decision by Marylebone Cricket Club – upholders of the game's laws – to re-classify the act from law 41's 'unfair play' and incorporate it within law 38 pertaining to run outs, the infamy heaped upon bowlers who dare to enact a 'Mankad' should be consigned to history.

However, Warner noted today that while batter's who seek to gain advantage by moving out of the non-striker's end crease before a bowler has released the ball (in line with the run-out law) only have themselves to blame if dismissed, he continues to view it as a moral issue.

"I still think the history of the game suggests it's a spirit of cricket thing," Warner said from Karachi where Australia's second Test against Pakistan begins later this week.

"You don't expect players to do that.

"I do agree with the fact that if you are backing up, and you're out of your crease by a long way (you are fair game).

"I think it happened more predominantly at the end of a white-ball 50-over games, or obviously in T20 cricket we've seen it but at the end of the day, as a batsman, you've got to stay in your crease.

"There's no doubt about that, and if you're silly enough to get caught out like that and run out, that's your own fault.

"You're told not to leave before the bowler lets the ball go, so just don't do it."

Warner also found an unlikely ally for his view – England fast bowler Stuart Broad, who has dismissed the Australia opener more times in Tests (14) than any other rival.

Responding to the MCC's announcement on Twitter, Broad noted "hasn't it always been a legitimate dismissal and whether it is unfair is subjective?" before adding he would not engage in the practice as a bowler because it "requires zero skill". 

In confirming the latest update of the game's laws – the International Cricket Council enforces those laws, but only holds autonomy over regulations and playing conditions – the MCC conceded it represented a small change but addressed a significant point of principle.

"The bowler is always painted as the villain but it is a legitimate way to dismiss someone and it is the non-striker who is stealing the ground," the MCC's laws manager Fraser Stewart told The Times newspaper in the UK.

"It is legitimate, it is a run-out and therefore it should live in the run-out section of the laws."

Among the transgressions still incorporated under law 41 'unfair play' are changing the condition of the match ball, deliberately attempting to distract or deceive a batter, time wasting and deliberate bowling of dangerous full-tosses or front-foot no-balls.

What hasn't changed, as it is not covered in the game's laws, is the nomenclature around the now-reclassified practice of which many cricket fans as well as members of the affected family take a dim view.

The bowler's end run-out gained its label from legendary former India allrounder Vinoo Mankad who twice ran out Australia opener Bill Brown at the non-striker's end – once in a tour game against an Australia XI at the SCG in 1947, and then again in the second Test of the ensuing series.

But while debate also rages as to why the practice never became known as a 'Brown' given it was the batter who was in breach of the laws in those enduring examples, Warner's other misgiving is that the ploy not be used as a tactic.

As Ashwin showed in the following year's IPL after the Buttler incident, when he again stopped in his action and issued a warning with Australia limited-overs captain Aaron Finch (playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore) out of his ground, the game stalls every time a 'Mankad' is threatened.

And Warner does not believe the switch from 'unfair' to 'legitimate' will stop some players from employing it simply to make a point.

"I think what's important for the game of cricket is that bowlers don't be looking for that, because then you're going to slow the game down even more," he said.

"I know from before, being a captain, it can be frustrating and you're taking time out of the game.

"So there's some areas there that need to be addressed, but that's on an individual basis."

Qantas Tour of Pakistan 2022

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Azhar Ali, Fawad Alam, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Zahid Mahmood.

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner. On standby: Sean Abbott, Brendan Doggett, Nic Maddinson, Matthew Renshaw

First Test: Match drawn

March 12-16: Second Test, Karachi

March 21-25: Third Test, Lahore

Australia ODI and T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Ben McDermott, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

March 29: First ODI, Rawalpindi

March 31: Second ODI, Rawalpindi

April 2: Third ODI, Rawalpindi

April 5: Only T20I, Rawalpindi

All matches to be broadcast in Australia on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports