Mankad Run-Outs and the Laws of Cricket
What a Mankad run-out is, where the name comes from, how the Laws treat running out the non-striker, and why the change in 2022 mattered.
A Mankad run-out happens when a bowler removes the bails at the non-striker’s end while the batter there has left the crease before the ball has been released. It is a legal dismissal under the Laws of Cricket, yet it has produced more debate than almost any other type of wicket. Supporters call it a simple application of the rules, while critics argue that it goes against the spirit of the game.
The origin of the name
The term comes from the Indian all-rounder Vinoo Mankad. During India’s tour of Australia in 1947, he ran out the Australian batter Bill Brown at the non-striker’s end in a Test match at Sydney, after having warned him earlier in the tour. Some Australian commentators criticised the act, but Mankad’s supporters pointed out that he had followed the rules and had given a warning. Don Bradman later said that he considered the dismissal fair. The name stuck, although many people now prefer to call it a run-out of the non-striker rather than use the name of a player.
What the Laws say
For many years the dismissal was dealt with in the section of the Laws on unfair play. Under that wording, a bowler could attempt to run out a non-striker who was out of the crease before the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball. A bowler was expected to do so before entering the delivery stride, and a warning was recommended in earlier versions of the Laws.
In 2022, the Marylebone Cricket Club, which is the custodian of the Laws, moved the dismissal into the Run Out law. The change took effect in the October 2022 update of the Laws and was adopted in international cricket at the same time. The aim was to recognise that it is a normal run-out rather than an act of unfair play, and to put it on the same footing as other ways of getting a batter out of their ground.
How the dismissal works in practice
The key points for a bowler and a batter are:
- The non-striker is out of their ground when the bowler’s action reaches the point at which the ball would normally be released
- The bowler must attempt the run-out before releasing the ball
- The bowler breaks the wicket with the ball in hand, or with the hand holding the ball
- If the bowler goes through with the delivery, the chance to run the non-striker out in this way has passed
Umpires often check the position of the non-striker with a replay. If the batter had grounded their bat or some part of their body behind the line before the bowler removed the bails, the decision will be not out.
The debate about the spirit of the game
The key argument against the dismissal is that it is a surprise to the batter and can feel like a trick. Many players have chosen to give a warning, and some captains have withdrawn an appeal after the umpire raised the finger. Those in favour argue that a non-striker who leaves early is gaining an unfair advantage by shortening the length of the run, and that the bowler is entitled to enforce the rules.
There have been high-profile incidents in international and franchise cricket in recent years that brought the question into the public eye. Reactions differed between countries and between individuals, which shows that the issue is still seen differently in different parts of the cricket world.
Advice for batters
The simplest way to avoid being dismissed in this way is to remain in the crease until the bowler has released the ball. Batters who like to back up for a quicker single can do so by watching the bowler’s hand and leaving only once the ball has left it. Coaches often teach this as a basic habit from an early age.
The bottom line
The Laws now treat the dismissal as an ordinary form of run-out. Whether a team chooses to use it, or to give a warning first, remains a matter for the captain and the bowler. Understanding how it works helps fans follow a decision that is often controversial.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called a Mankad?
It is named after the Indian all-rounder Vinoo Mankad, who ran out Bill Brown in this way during a Test match at Sydney in 1947.
Is a Mankad legal?
Yes. Under the Laws, a bowler may run out a non-striker who is out of the crease before the ball is released, and since 2022 it is classed as a standard run-out.
How can a batter avoid being Mankaded?
By staying behind the crease until the bowler has released the ball.