World Cup 2023: 'Umpires correctly gave Mathews out', MCC releases statement on Sri Lanka batter's 'Timed Out' dismissal

A few days after Angelo Mathews’ controversial dismissal during Sri Lanka’s Cricket World Cup game against Bangladesh, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) have released a statement clarifying the same.

World Cup 2023: News | Schedule | Results | Points table

On Monday (6 November), Mathews was “Timed Out” during the Sri Lanka-Bangladesh game in Delhi, which resulted in a first-of-its kind dismissal in international cricket.

Mathews had come out to bat at number six after Sadeera Samarawickrama’s dismissal in the 26^th over. However, the veteran took longer time to settle down at the crease than expected, after a strap of his helmet got broken and signalled to the dugout for a replacement helmet.

However, on seeing the delay, Shakib Al Hasan and his Bangladesh teammates appealed to the on-field umpires, who eventually “timed out” Mathews.

In their statement, the MCC, referring to Law 40.1.1, said that it could have been accepted as a delay had the umpires been informed about a “justifiable” equipment-related delay.

“Had the umpires been informed of a significant, justifiable, equipment-related delay within the two-minute allowance, they could have treated it as a new type of delay (as they would when, for example, a bat breaks), possibly even calling Time, allowing for a resolution of that delay without the batter being at risk of being Timed out. However, it is important to note that both umpires determined the delay came after the two minutes had elapsed, and that Time had not been called before the appeal,” the MCC said.

Following his dismissal, Mathews took to micro-blogging platform X to post a video evidence which showed Mathews had five more seconds to take his position.

However, the MCC said that the umpires had correctly given Mathews out.

“Having taken more than 90 seconds to get to the 30-yard circle, Mathews appeared to notice that he was short on time, jogging the final few yards to the wicket. His helmet malfunction has since been shown to have taken place 1 minute and 54 seconds after the previous wicket had fallen. He had not, at this stage, begun to take guard and was not close to being in a position to receive the ball.

“When the helmet broke, it appears that Mathews did not consult with the umpires, which a player would be expected to do when seeking new equipment. Rather, he just signalled to the dressing room for a replacement. Had he explained to the umpires what had happened and asked for time to get it sorted out, they might have allowed him to change the helmet, perhaps calling Time and thus removing any possibility of being Timed out. Given that Time had not been called, and that at the time of the appeal more than two minutes had elapsed, the umpires correctly gave Mathews out. In fact, there was no other action for the umpires to take within the Laws of Cricket,” explained the MCC.

Both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have already been knocked out of the World Cup, after failing to secure a semi-final spot.