Mankad Dismissal in Cricket
What is the Mankad dismissal? How it works, its legality, the 2022 Law change, and the history of the 'Mankading' controversy.
A Mankad dismissal occurs when the bowler removes the bails at the non-striker's end before releasing the ball, dismissing a non-striker who has left the crease too early. It is named after Indian cricketer Vinoo Mankad, who used the method in 1947 — though the practice predates him.
How the Mankad Works
As the bowler enters the delivery stride, the non-striker backs up — moves down the pitch before the ball is released. If the non-striker's bat is not grounded behind the crease at the moment the bowler 'breaks the wicket' (removes the bails before delivery), the non-striker is out.
2022 Law Change
The MCC formally reclassified the Mankad in 2022. Previously it sat under Law 41 (unfair play) — a location that implicitly made it appear unsportsmanlike. It was moved to Law 38 (run out) — making clear it is a legitimate mode of dismissal equivalent to any standard run out. The informal term 'Mankading' is discouraged; the official term is simply 'run out (non-striker's end)'.
Famous Mankad Controversies
- Vinoo Mankad dismissed Bill Brown twice in the 1947 tour of Australia — the first widely documented instance.
- Ravichandran Ashwin Mankaded Jos Buttler in IPL 2019 — the dismissal dominated cricket debate for weeks.
- Charlie Dean was run out by Deepti Sharma at Lord's in 2022 — confirming Mankad's new 'acceptable' status.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mankading legal in all competitions?
Yes — it is legal under the Laws of Cricket and in all competitions that use those Laws. Some competitions previously had additional conventions, but post-2022 Law changes no warning is required.
What should non-strikers do to avoid being Mankaded?
Keep the bat grounded behind the popping crease until the bowler's front arm passes the vertical during the delivery stride. Only then is it safe to begin backing up.