Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Matthews on Monday became the first international cricketer to be 'timed out' after not being ready to face the ball within two minutes of the fall of a wicket against Bangladesh in a World Cup match. The 36-year-old walked out to bat after the dismissal of Sadeera Samarawickrama but had some issues with his helmet strap and signalled for a replacement, prompting Bangladesh to appeal for a 'time out'. (Match Blog | Scorecard | Full Coverage)
Bangladesh players including skipper Shakib Al Hasan appealed for a time-out and the umpires obliged as they went by the rules. Mathews and Bangladesh players had a conversation but the latter did not pull out from their appeal and the decision stood.
Rule 40.1.1 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 declared out, Timed out.
As per rule 40.1.2, In the event of an extended delay in which no batter comes to the wicket, the umpires shall adopt the procedure of Law 16.3 (Umpires awarding a match). For the purposes of that Law the start of the action shall be taken as the expiry of the 3 minutes referred to above.
Mathews became the first-ever player in international cricket, men's or women's, to be dismissed according to the "timed out" law. Though it has never happened in international cricket, there have been instances in India's domestic cricket, including one in the match between Tripura and Orissa at Cuttack in 1997 when Hemulal Yadav was at the receiving end.
(With PTI inputs)
