All-rounder Angelo Mathews on Monday became the first cricketer to be ‘timed out’ in an international match during Sri Lanka’s World Cup group encounter against Bangladesh at the Kotla.
The 36-year-old, who arrived at the crease following the dismissal of Sadeera Samarawickrama, was about to take strike against Shakib-Al Hasan when his helmet strap broke just as he was tightening it around his chin.
He called for a replacement helmet, which was brought to him by Chamika Karunaratne. Shakib appeared to initiate a discussion with umpire Marais Erasmus following which Mathews was told he had been dismissed ‘timed out’ since he was not ready to face his first ball within the two minutes as allowed in the ICC playing conditions.
Mathews had an animated discussion with umpires Erasmus and Richard Illingworth, explaining that he had some issue with the helmet strap but the Sri Lankan was asked to leave the field.
Mathews later termed it as “disgraceful” and said it had left him in “complete shock”.
“I haven’t done anything wrong. I had two minutes to get ready which I did but there was an equipment malfunction and I don’t know where common sense (had) gone. It was disgraceful from Shakib and Bangladesh,” Mathews said.
The ICC playing conditions clearly stipulate that the batter must be ready to receive the ball within two minutes.
The law 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 two minutes of the dismissal or retirement. If this requirement is not met, the incoming batter will be out, Timed Out.”
Reserve umpire Adrian Holdstock said: “The fielding captain initiated the appeal to Erasmus, who was the standing umpire, that he wanted to appeal for timed out.
“As a batsman I think you need to make sure that you have all your equipment in place in order to make sure you get here, because you actually have to be ready to receive the ball within two minutes... not ready to prepare or take your guard,” Holdstock said.
“So technically, you should be there within maybe 15 seconds to make sure all those things are in place before you actually receive the ball. And in the instance, the batter wasn’t ready to receive the ball within those two minutes, even before the strap became an issue,” the reserve umpire said.
The incident sparked a debate on the spirit of the game. “Absolutely pathetic what happened in Delhi today!” Gautam Gambhir wrote on X.
“Spirit of the game should remain high always,” former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez said.