Sri Lanka’s star all-rounder Angelo Mathews registered an unwanted record as became the first cricketer to be timed out in international cricket history.
The controversial incident took place during Sri Lanka’s ICC World Cup 2023 match against Bangladesh at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi in what was the 38th game of the marquee 50-over tournament.
Put in to bat, Sri Lanka were reduced to 135/4 in 24.2 overs by a formidable Bangladesh bowling line-up.
Having lost the wickets of Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews walked out to the middle at number six.
The veteran all-rounder was later not happy with his helmet as the strap was broken and soon asked for a replacement.
This resulted in loss of time and Mathews could not take the crease in the required time. The Shakib Al Hasan-led Bangladesh cricket team later appealed to the umpire for a time-out.
While Mathews pleaded for his case, the umpires followed the rules and he was given out.
What is timed out in cricket
According to the MCC rule, a batter is adjudged timed out in cricket under the following circumstance.
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 three minutes of the dismissal or retirement. If this requirement is not met, the incoming batter will be out, Timed out.
The laws also add that the bowler does not get the credit for the wicket.
Meanwhile, the time limit for the batter to receive the next ball is just two minutes according to the ICC World Cup 2023 conditions.
“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 two minutes of the dismissal or retirement. If this requirement is not met, the incoming batter will be out, Timed out,” the World Cup playing conditions stated.
While players have been timed out in other domestic games in the past, Mathews will go down as the first cricketer to be Timed Out on the international stage in what is the rarests form of dismissal in cricket.
Photo credit: Alamy
