In a remarkable and unprecedented turn of events, Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews etched his name into cricketing history during the World Cup 2023. Mathews became the first player to be timed out in international cricket during a match against Bangladesh at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
The incident unfolded when Mathews appeared to have a problem with his helmet and wasn’t ready to face a ball. Recognizing the opportunity, Bangladesh appealed, leading to a unique decision that took everyone by surprise. Shakib, the Bangladesh captain, decided to uphold the appeal, putting Mathews in a challenging position. Once the decision was confirmed, there was no turning back.
Angelo Mathews’ timed-out dismissal marked an unprecedented moment in international cricket, both for men and women. Such a dismissal had only occurred six times before in any format, and all in first-class cricket. This historical occurrence left cricket fans and experts astonished.
The 2023 World Cup playing conditions stipulate that a new batter must be prepared to face their first ball within two minutes of arriving. However, the laws of the game indicate a three-minute timeframe. Mathews, unfortunately, couldn’t meet this requirement.
For clarity, Mathews had initially walked onto the field well within those two minutes. Still, as he readied himself to take strike, the issue with his helmet’s strap surfaced. He requested a replacement, and this delay ultimately led to his dismissal.
Following the decision, Mathews attempted to converse with Shakib, the Bangladesh captain. Shakib responded amicably but did not retract the appeal. The decision was made, and Mathews had to accept the outcome. However, it was evident that the Sri Lankan team was not pleased with the turn of events. Mathews, in a moment of frustration, threw his helmet aside as he walked back to the pavilion.
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Mathews had entered the crease to bat after Shakib dismissed Sadeera Samarawickrama, who had contributed a valuable 41 runs from 42 balls.
The MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) rulebook clarifies the conditions leading to a timed-out dismissal. It states, “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 3 minutes of the dismissal or retirement. If this requirement is not met, the incoming batter will be out, Timed out.”
Waqar Younis, from the commentary box, expressed his concerns, saying, “This is not good for the game. It is against the spirit of cricket.” Ramiz Raja, also part of the commentary team, speculated that the incident might infuse Sri Lanka with a renewed sense of passion and determination to play with heightened intensity.
