Mankading: The Non-Striker Run-Out and Its Controversial History
The history of Mankading — dismissing the non-striker for backing up too far — the Vinoo Mankad original incident, modern ICC rule changes that redefined it, and why it remains divisive in cricket's culture.
Mankading refers to a bowler running out the non-striking batsman who has backed up too far before the delivery is bowled. The term derives from Indian bowler Vinoo Mankad, who dismissed Bill Brown of Australia twice in 1947 using this method — first warning Brown, then dismissing him. The dismissal is entirely legal under the Laws of Cricket and has been so since cricket's early codification, but was considered by many in the game to be against the 'spirit of cricket'. The ICC removed it from the 'unfair play' section of the Laws in 2022.
The 2022 Rule Change
In October 2022, the ICC amended the Laws of Cricket so that a non-striker run-out is now covered under Law 38 (Run Out) rather than Law 41 (Unfair Play), as it previously was. This change explicitly removed the longstanding implication that the dismissal was questionable. Bowlers no longer need to warn the batsman; the dismissal is simply a run-out. The ICC's reasoning: if the non-striker is outside the crease before the ball is bowled, they are gaining an unfair advantage, and the bowler is legally entitled to dismiss them without warning.
Notable Instances
- Vinoo Mankad vs Bill Brown (1947): The original incident, from which the term derives. Mankad had warned Brown once and on the second occasion ran him out without warning. The Australian press was critical; the Laws supported Mankad.
- Sachithra Senanayake vs Jos Buttler, 2014 ODI: Senanayake ran out Buttler at Old Trafford without warning, causing significant controversy. England captain Alastair Cook said 'I'm from the old school — I think you warn the batsman first.'
- Deepti Sharma vs Charlie Dean, 2022 Women's Ashes: Deepti Sharma ran out Dean in a close match, with England needing a small number of runs. The dismissal ended the match. The debate re-erupted until the ICC's 2022 law change settled the matter.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mankading legal in cricket?
Yes, Mankading is legal under the Laws of Cricket. Since the 2022 ICC Law amendment, a non-striker run-out is covered under Law 38 (Run Out) rather than the unfair play section, explicitly confirming its legality. A bowler does not need to warn the non-striker before running them out; the dismissal is straightforward if the non-striker is outside their crease before the ball is delivered. Umpires will uphold the dismissal without any requirement for a prior warning.
Why is it called Mankading?
The term 'Mankading' derives from Indian cricketer Vinoo Mankad, who dismissed Australian batsman Bill Brown by running him out at the non-striker's end in 1947 — first warning him, then doing it. Mankad was actually a highly respected all-rounder (one of India's greatest cricketers of his era, with 2,109 Test runs and 162 wickets), and using the term only for this dismissal gives a slightly misleading impression of his legacy. The term is now widely used globally, though 'non-striker run-out' is increasingly preferred in formal contexts.