BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – WITH controversy in the cricket world over the ‘Mankading’ involving the West Indies Under-19 in their match against Zimbabwe in the current ICC U-19 World Cup, local cricket pundit and commentator Victor Eddy is in support of the youngsters’ action.
Yesterday (Feb 2), the regional youth team was locked in an intense battle with the Zimbabwe U-19 team in Chittagong, Bangladesh for a place in the Quarter Finals.
Needing three runs from the final over, the last pair of Zimbabweans at the crease was obviously confident of victory. But it was not to be as, in run up, young Keemo Paul had observed the non-striker was not in his crease and he quickly dislodged the bails.
An appeal was made and it was referred to the third umpire, who ruled that the batsman was out because his bat was millimetres outside the crease.
Speaking with SKNVibes Sports, former St. Kitts and Leeward Islands prolific batsman Victor Eddy said that instead of levelling criticism towards the youths, congratulations should be given to them because their actions were in keeping with the laws of the game.
He noted that with the complexity of the game, not many bowlers would have thought of such a move on the international stage.
“The player who did that was within all the rules and laws of the game. And it is good to see and to know that such a player at such a young age understands the rules and laws by which they are governed. He did nothing wrong in that context!”
The former St. Kitts and Leeward Islands prolific batsman however quickly pointed out that some people might argue that it was wrong, taking the spirit of the game into consideration.
He is of the view that the laws favour batsmen.
“But cricket for so many years, where the laws and rules of the game are concerned, is designed primarily for batsmen. Here there was the bowler getting the opportunity and he used it to his best advantage.”
The action of the young West Indian did not sit well with many current and past international players, but former West Indies pace bowler now commentator, Ian Bishop was quick to defend him as he pointed out that the run-out was within the boundaries of the laws of the game.
“Seeing that he was not infringing on any of the rules or the laws, in my view it was a very good decision of the young man knowing the game, knowing the rules and also the carelessness of the batsman who was backing up too far,” Eddy said.
At the presentation ceremony, captain of the West Indies U-19, Shimron Hetmyer said that the team's action is “not a big deal”, while noting that cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties.
He however acknowledged that the action was not in the spirit of the game, but it was in keeping with the laws.
“The ICC may have some consideration about that particular law but, there again, if there is going to be any consideration on removing the law it would then be another law favouring the batsmen. So the bowlers do not have any privileges in the game when it comes to the laws that govern the game of cricket.”
According to Cricinfo.com, the Manager of the Zimbabwe cricket team explained that there was not much his team could have done as the dismissal was within the confines of the game.
He noted that his team was disappointed with the result but “a run-out is a run-out” and the players are happy with the way they played.
Eddy told SKNVibes that the tournament is an international competition and even though some may argue that the rule should not be in place for an age category, he thinks that all rules should be available to players and not changing for domestic, international or other forms of the game.
“I would think that to maintain consistency, in my view, I would leave it as it is.”
The West Indies will now play Pakistan U-19 in the Quarter Finals on Monday (Feb. 8) for a place in the Semi-Finals.
West Indies have never won the Under-19 World Cup and had fallen short in the Finals in 2004.
Mankading is said to be the act of running out the non-striking batsman by the bowler when he is backing up too far, and it is done before the bowler delivers the ball.
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