Rule Explained: Why Angelo Mathews was given "timed out" against Bangladesh in CWC 2023 match in Delhi

Published at :November 6, 2023 at 11:24 AM

Modified at :January 13, 2024 at 7:28 PM

Angelo Mathews became the first ever batsman in international cricket to be dismissed timed out.

Bizarre scenes occurred at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi during the Sri Lanka-Bangladesh ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 match, as Angelo Mathews became the first batsman to be given ‘timed-out’ in cricket.

After winning the toss, Bangladesh elected to bowl first. Sri Lanka got off to a bad start when Kusal Perera was out for four runs. Captain Kusal Mendis scored 19 runs before being removed by Shakib Al Hasan. Pathum Nissanka (41) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (41) then help to rebuild the innings, but Tanzim Hasan dismisses Nissanka and Shakib dismisses Samarawickrama.

Charith Asalanka was seeking someone to back him up, and Angelo Mathews walked out when Samarawickrama was fired.

However, even before Mathews faced a delivery, he was given his marching orders back by the umpires after the Bangladesh team appealed for time out.

Here’s what happened with Angelo Mathews’ time-out dismissal

The incident happened in the 25th over of the Sri Lanka innings when Shakib Al Hasan had just dismissed Samarawickrama, caught by Mahmudullah near the rope. Mathews walked in to bat at No.6 at the fall of Sadeera Samarawickrama’s wicket.

Mathews took his time walking in and then struggled with his helmet as the strap broke just as he was taking guard. He signaled to the dressing room for a new helmet, and everyone was waiting for one to be brought out to him.

The Sri Lankan team’s substitute player did run with the correct helmet. However, Bangladesh had already requested a “time out.” Angelo Mathews pleaded with the umpires and Shakib al Hasan, but his appeal was not retracted.

Angelo Mathews was furious following his ejection and tossed away his helmet in rage as he exited the pitch.

The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 playing conditions pertaining to “timed out” dismissals reads thus:

40.1.1: “After the fall of a wicket or the retirement of a batter, the incoming batter must, unless Time has been called, be ready to receive the ball, or for the other batter to be ready to receive the next ball within 2 minutes of the dismissal or retirement. If this requirement is not met, the incoming batter will be out, Timed out.”

With Mathews taking more than two minutes to face his first ball, he had to be sent back to the pavilion following the appeal. It was the first time in international cricket, men’s or women’s, that a batter was dismissed according to the “timed out” law.

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