The Timed Out Rule in Cricket: What It Means, When It Applies, and the Angelo Mathews Incident

The timed out dismissal in cricket occurs when a new batter fails to be ready to face the next ball within 3 minutes of a wicket falling. It is one of cricket's rarest dismissals — and one of its most debated — after Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan appealed against Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews during the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, resulting in the first-ever timed out dismissal in international cricket history. The incident triggered a global conversation about the spirit of cricket, the laws of the game, and when it is appropriate to invoke rarely-used rules.

The Law: 3 Minutes to Be Ready

Under the Laws of Cricket (Law 40 — Timed Out), a new incoming batter must be ready to face the next delivery within 3 minutes of the fall of the previous wicket. 'Ready to face' means the batter must be at the batting crease and prepared to bat — not still padding up in the dressing room, walking slowly onto the field, or dealing with equipment issues. If 3 minutes elapse without the new batter being ready, the fielding captain may appeal to the umpire, who can give the incoming batter out — timed out. The appeal must come before the next ball is bowled.

Angelo Mathews: The First International Timed Out

On 6 November 2023, Angelo Mathews became the first player dismissed timed out in international cricket history — in a group stage match of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Delhi. Mathews arrived at the crease within 3 minutes but his helmet chin strap broke as he was preparing to face. While he was dealing with the equipment malfunction, Shakib Al Hasan — Bangladesh's captain — made a formal appeal to the umpire for timed out. The umpire upheld the appeal, ruling Mathews out timed out. Mathews was visibly furious and later stated that appealing in that situation was against the spirit of cricket. Bangladesh won the match.

Has Timed Out Happened Before Internationally?

The Mathews dismissal in 2023 was the first-ever timed out in international men's or women's cricket at any level. Before 2023, timed out had occurred in domestic cricket on rare occasions — typically in lower-level games where a team was attempting to waste time — but never in a Test match, ODI, or T20I. The law has existed in the Laws of Cricket for over a century; the Mathews incident was simply the first time it was invoked at international level. The rarity of the dismissal reflects both that batters typically arrive at the crease well within 3 minutes and that fielding teams have historically chosen not to appeal even when the opportunity existed.

How Timed Out Differs From Obstructing the Field and Handled the Ball

Timed out, obstructing the field, and handled the ball (now absorbed into obstructing the field under the 2017 revision of the Laws of Cricket) are cricket's 'unusual dismissal' category — all of them are extremely rare in international cricket. The key difference from other dismissals: timed out requires a formal appeal from the fielding captain; the ball does not need to be in play; and the incoming batter is dismissed before they have faced a single delivery. In the scorebook, a timed out dismissal is recorded as 'timed out' — not credited to any bowler.