Timed Out in Cricket — The Rarest Dismissal Explained
What timed out means in cricket, how Law 40 defines it, the time limits batters must meet, and the Angelo Mathews incident in 2023 that made it globally famous.
Timed out is the rarest dismissal in international cricket, having occurred only once at the senior men's level in over 140 years of Test cricket. Under Law 40, an incoming batter must be ready to face the next delivery — or be in position to do so — within three minutes of the previous batter being dismissed. If they fail to meet this requirement and the fielding team appeals, the batter is given out timed out.
Law 40 — The Three-Minute Rule
Law 40 states that a new batter must be in position to play within 3 minutes of the fall of the previous wicket. The umpire will signal dead ball and the time clock starts from the moment a wicket falls. In limited-overs cricket (T20s and ODIs), the rule also applies, and teams have sometimes been warned about slow transitions to ensure match flow is maintained.
The Angelo Mathews Incident — 2023 ODI World Cup
On 6 November 2023, Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews became the first player in ODI history to be given out timed out. Facing Bangladesh in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in Delhi, Mathews arrived at the crease within time but his helmet strap broke as he prepared to face. After asking for a new helmet, he exceeded the three-minute limit. Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan appealed and umpire Marais Erasmus upheld the appeal. The incident caused global debate about the spirit of cricket — Bangladesh argued the Law was clear, Mathews considered the appeal unsporting.
Spirit of Cricket vs the Law
The MCC's Spirit of Cricket preamble addresses cases like Mathews: captains are encouraged to withdraw appeals that involve equipment failure beyond the batter's control. However, the Law does not compel them to. Shakib's decision to maintain the appeal was controversial but legal. The MCC subsequently reviewed Law 40 to consider whether equipment failure should be exempt from the timed out rule.
Frequently asked questions
Can an umpire give a batter out timed out without an appeal?
No — under Law 40, the fielding captain must formally appeal. Umpires will not rule timed out on their own initiative.
Does the three-minute clock include walking to the crease?
Yes — the three minutes starts from the fall of the previous wicket and includes the time the incoming batter needs to reach the crease and prepare.
Can the fielding team waive a timed out appeal?
Yes — the fielding captain can choose not to appeal or can withdraw the appeal if they believe the delay was due to extraordinary circumstances.