International cricket bore witness to a historic moment during the ongoing 2023 ODI World Cup league clash between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Angelo Mathews made history by becoming the first player to be timed out, an unfortunate incident that has ignited discussions among former players and fans alike.
Angelo Mathews’ Helmet Strap Dilemma
Angelo Mathews’ untimely departure was triggered by an issue with his helmet strap. Coming out to bat following the dismissal of Sadeera Samarawickrama, he halted to adjust his helmet strap, which had broken. While waiting for a replacement, Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan issued an appeal to the on-field umpires Marais Erasmus and Richard Illingworth.
Despite Mathews’ efforts to plead his innocence and urge Shakib to withdraw the appeal, the Bangladesh team remained resolute in their stance, leading to the Sri Lankan’s dismissal. Mathews expressed his displeasure by tossing his broken helmet beyond the boundary, seeking intervention from match officials and the Sri Lanka coaching staff.
Spirit of Cricket Debate
The incident has sparked a spirited debate within the cricketing community. One side argues that Mathews was not at fault, and his dismissal goes against the ‘Spirit of Cricket,’ as he had not even faced a delivery. On the other hand, some believe that Shakib’s appeal was legitimate since Mathews had exceeded the time limit after coming to bat.
At the end of the day, cricket’s rule book had the final say, resulting in Angelo Mathews’ historic dismissal. This incident has garnered attention due to its unique nature, but it’s not the first time such an event has occurred in cricket.
Five Unusual Reasons for Batters Being Timed Out
1. Andrew Jordaan (Floods) – Andrew Jordaan was the first player to be timed out in first-class cricket. During a domestic contest against Transvaal at Port Elizabeth, he was stranded due to persistent rains and floods, preventing him from reaching the match on time.
2. Hemulal Yadav (Discussion with team manager) – In a Ranji Trophy contest between Orissa and Tripura, Hemulal Yadav was slated to bat but was engaged in a deep conversation with his team manager when play was due to restart, leading to his dismissal.
3. Vasbert Drakes (Middle of a flight) – Vasbert Drakes was delayed due to a flight while travelling to a domestic match, rendering him unable to bat when needed.
4. AJ Harris (Groin injury) – Andrew Harris, playing for Nottinghamshire, couldn’t come out to bat due to a groin injury and was dismissed without facing a delivery, despite attempting to do so.
5. Unknown Cases (Reasons Unknown) – Ryan Austin and Charles Kunje are two more players who faced a timed-out dismissal, but the reasons behind their dismissals remain unknown.
While Angelo Mathews’ dismissal has set a new milestone in cricket, it serves as a reminder of the sport’s rich history of bizarre reasons for batters being timed out. These incidents add unique anecdotes to the rich tapestry of cricket’s evolution over the years.
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