Angelo Mathews becomes the 1st cricketer to be dismissed via a ‘timed out’ decision as he did not take strike within two minutes of the previous wicket falling. He was dissatisfied with the strap on his helmet and was not prepared to face his first delivery after entering as the No. 6 batsman for Sri Lanka during the match.
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The incident occurred during the Sri Lanka & Bangladesh ICC World Match 2023 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi. In the 25th over, after the dismissal of Sri Lankan batsman Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews was the next batsman to play.
The major point of discussion revolved around the dismissal of Mathews, who was declared timed out. This marked Angelo Mathews becomes the 1st cricketer to be dismissed via a ‘timed out’. According to the rules, an incoming batsman is expected to be ready within 2 minutes after a dismissal. Mathews did step out within the allotted time, but his helmet strap came off just before he was set to face a delivery, causing a slight delay. Bangladesh lodged an appeal, and the umpires sided with them.
As per MCC law 40.1 (Timed Out) – A batter has to be ready to receive the next ball within 3 minutes of the dismissal or retirement of a player.
The substitute rushed onto the field with the correct helmet, but it proved futile as Mathews had already been declared out by that time. The Angelo Mathews argued with the umpires and attempted to explain the situation to Shakib as well for a while before reluctantly leaving the field in frustration, shaking his head in disappointment. Upon crossing the boundary, he immediately tossed his helmet in frustration.
“My point is that Mathews’s dismissal was not good for the spirit of cricket,” Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka, who smashed a century in the match, told the broadcasters.
Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja said it was the batter’s duty to be ready within the stipulated time.
“To a certain degree it is an onus on cricketers to learn the rules and understand the spirit of the rules,” Raja said.
Rare occurrence dismissal in cricket
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly managed to avoid being dismissed through a ‘timed out’ ruling when he had to quickly take the field after a wicket fell during a Test match against South Africa in Cape Town in 2007.
While the timed-out rule in Test matches allowed for a three-minute period, Proteas skipper Graeme Smith chose not to appeal and patiently waited for Ganguly to make his way to the pitch, even though he had exceeded the time limit.
In that particular situation, India had just lost a wicket, and Sachin Tendulkar was not allowed to come onto the field due to the time he had spent off it. VVS Laxman was also unavailable as he was taking a shower, leaving the responsibility of going out to bat on Ganguly, who was still in his tracksuit.
Instances of ‘timed out’ dismissals have occurred in first-class cricket on at least six occasions, with the most recent case being the dismissal of Zimbabwean Charles Kunje in a Logan Cup match in 2017.
As per the laws of cricket, following the fall of a wicket or a batsman’s retirement, the incoming player must be prepared to face the ball within two minutes.
Does the bowler get the credit for the wicket?
No, the bowler doesn’t receive credit for the wicket, as per the playing conditions.
Timed out rule
According to the playing conditions of the men’s cricket World Cup 2023, “After the fall of a wicket or the retirement of a batsman, the upcoming batsman must be ready within 2.
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