• Stokes offers alternative to ‘Mankad’ run out

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    Ben Stokes has suggested another way to punish a batsman who is caught stealing ground at the non-striker’s end.

    The England Test captain’s comments followed the latest ‘Mankad’ controversy, in Monday’s IPL match between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Lucknow Super Giants.

    Lucknow needed one run off the last ball when Bangalore pace bowler Harshal Patel tried to run out Lucknow’s Ravi Bishnoi at the non-striker’s end.

    However, Patel missed the stumps, and while he then threw them down, that resulted in a dead ball. (As per Law 38.3.1.2: “Even if the non-striker had left his/her ground before the instant at which the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, once the bowler has reached that point it is no longer possible for the bowler to run out the non-striker under this Law.”)

    Patel had to bowl the final delivery again, and the Lucknow batsmen scampered through for a bye to seal a dramatic victory.

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    TV commentator Harsha Bhogle tweeted: “Bishnoi was leaving his crease early. Any silly people out there still saying you shouldn’t run the non-striker out?”

    To which Stokes responded: “Thoughts Harsha? Umpire’s discretion. 6 penalty runs if obviously trying to gain unfair advantage by leaving crease early? Would stop batters doing it without all the controversy.”

    VOTE: How should a non-striker stealing ground be punished?

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    Simon Borchardt