STUDENTS GET LESSON FROM COOK
(Even if it was Kohli in the World Cup final says seething Stokes)
BEN STOKES says he would “never, ever, ever” pull a fast one on Indian deity Virat Kohli with a ‘Mankad’ – especially in a World Cup final.
England’s box-office allrounder waded into the row over team-mate Jos Buttler’s controversial dismissal by Ravichandran Ashwin in the Indian Premier League – which drove a coach and horses through the spurious spirit of cricket enshrined by MCC.
Buttler was incensed after being run out at the nonstriker’s end by Ashwin in the Rajasthan Royals’ dramatic 14-run defeat by Kings XI Punjab on Monday.
Ashwin whipped off the bails as Buttler wandered out of his crease – instead of completing his delivery – to spark a chorus of outrage from past and present cricket luminaries.
If such a manoeuvre had been executed against an Indian superstar like revered captain Kohli on the big stage, it would be potentially a diplomatic incident, the stuff of burning effigies.
And Stokes (right, with Kohli), Buttler’s Royals teammate, says he would not resort to a Mankad – because the risk would outweigh the reward.
India are 3-1 second favourites with the bookies to win the ICC World Cup in England this summer behind the host nation.
Stokes tweeted: “Hopefully I’m playing in the World Cup final and if @imVkohli is batting when I’m bowling, I would never ever ever ever ever ever .... ”
Ashwin claimed his ‘Mankad’ removal of Buttler, which sparked a dramatic Royals collapse, was not against the game’s spirit and insisted it was “very instinctive”.
Named after Indian bowler Vinoo Mankad – who dismissed Australian Bill Brown in similar fashion 72 years ago – it is permitted under the laws but regarded by many as poor form, especially without a prior warning to the batsman.
Former Rajasthan captain and Ashes legend Shane Warne accused Ashwin of a “low act,” while England white-ball skipper Eoin Morgan said the incident set a “terrible example” to young players.
Warne added: “If Ben Stokes did what Ashwin did to @imVkohli, it would be OK? I’m just very disappointed in Ashwin as I thought he had integrity and class.” Buttler has been here before – he was dismissed by a Mankad against Sri Lanka in a one-day international at Lord’s five years ago.
And last night footage emerged of spinner Ashwin in familiar territory. In 2012, also in a one-dayer against Sri Lanka in Brisbane, he stranded Lahiru Thirimanne at the non-striker’s end with a Mankad.
His appeal was withdrawn by India’s captain Virender Sehwag after batting legend Sachin Tendulkar intervened.
Buttler was furious after his violent 69 off 43 balls was ended in such an
opportunist fashion on Monday and he barely managed to shake hands with Ashwin afterwards.
In the event of conventional run-out incidents being settled in the batsman’s favour by a matter of millimetres, non-strikers who back up too eagerly are gaining an unfair advantage.
But according to Law 41.16, bowlers are permitted to run out the non-striker if he is out of his ground at the “instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball”.
Replays showed Buttler’s bat was still within the popping crease when Ashwin’s foot landed, but had left his ground before the bails were removed.
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan believes the law should be changed, saying: “If Buttler had already been warned, that’s fine.
“If he hasn’t and it’s the first time, I think Ashwin is completely out of order. I would prefer a one-warning rule and after that it’s a freefor-all.” SIR ALASTAIR COOK made a century for Essex in his first innings since retiring from Test cricket.
The former England captain, 34, scored his 64th first-class hundred (celebrating, below) in a pre-season game against Cambridge MCCU at Fenner’s. He reached his ton before tea off 200 balls and was 150 not out when Essex declared on 387-5. England’s record run-scorer hit 21 boundaries off the student attack and shared a fourth-wicket stand of 217 with Adam Wheater, who made 130 off 162 balls. Other county/university games ahead of the new Championship season saw Eoin Morgan hit an unbeaten 61 off 69 balls for Middlesex against Oxford MCCU. And James Hildreth got an unbeaten 158 for Somerset against Cardiff MCCU.