BBL12 2023: Merv Hughes encourages kids to ‘Mankad’ despite Adam Zampa controversy

Merv Hughes has defended Stars captain Adam Zampa, coming out staunchly in favour of the controversial BBL ‘Mankad’ that has divided cricket.

Australian Test great Merv Hughes has slammed critics of the ‘Mankad’, revealing how he even encourages his own kids to run out offending non-strikers.

Boos echoed around the MCG on Tuesday night as Melbourne Stars captain Adam Zampa unsuccessfully attempted to run Renegades batter Tom Rogers out at the non-striker’s end in the first innings of the Melbourne derby, igniting yet another debate about the practice.

Zampa’s attempt to claim the controversial dismissal was thwarted by TV umpire Shawn Craig, who ruled that he had gone too far in his action, and Rogers was therefore not out, despite being out of his crease when the bails were taken.

The practice is so divisive that despite Zampa himself being the Stars captain, Stars coach David Hussey distanced himself from the appeal, calling it “not the right way to play cricket”.

Zampa will have 53-Test great Hughes in his corner, however, with the cult figure a staunch defender of the method.

Merv Hughes backed Adam Zampa. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty

“I can’t understand the controversy, I’m all for it,” Hughes said.

“I tell my kids, if the batter is backing up too far, just run him out”.

Hughes’ son Tim, who now plays first grade for Victorian Premier club Footscray, controversially ran out a batter at the non-striker’s end to seal a dramatic victory over Prahran in a 2017 third grade fixture.

Hughes was perplexed by the reasoning for Zampa’s appeal being turned down, with umpire Craig’s reference to “the perpendicular” confusing an already ambiguous law that allows the bowler to run out a non-striker until the “expected point of delivery”.

“I don’t understand why last night’s run out wasn’t out, the batter was out of his crease, should be out,” Hughes continued. “It’s a load of crap.

“People say it’s unsportsmanlike from the bowler, it’s actually unsportsmanlike from the batter trying to gain an advantage.”

Hughes believes not leaving the crease early is a simple task, and the deafening roars of controversy echoing around the cricket world are simply a matter of poor coaching.

“What I was taught as a kid was to watch the ball out of the bowler’s hand.”

Cricket divided over Zampa Mankad fail

- Ronny Lerner

Melbourne Stars captain Adam Zampa said he was “well within my right” to attempt to Mankad the Renegades’ Tom Rogers during a fiery local derby at the MCG on Tuesday night.

But despite looking determined to dismiss Rogers if the third umpire adjudged the Renegade to be out, in hindsight Zampa revealed he was not sure if he would’ve followed through with the dismissal.

The TV replay showed Zampa’s arm went past the vertical in his bowling action, so Rogers survived. Zampa admitted post-game that he wasn’t aware of the “vertical” aspect of the rule.

On the telecast, Zampa’s coach David Hussey said that if Rogers had been given out, the Stars would’ve asked for the decision to be reversed because it’s not the way Hussey wants to play cricket.

The umpire chats with Tom Rogers and Adam Zampa after the attempted Mankad during the Melbourne derby. Picture: Getty Images

“Tom Rogers the ball before used running out of the crease before I had bowled it to his advantage,” Zampa said.

“I bowled a good ball to Mackenzie Harvey which should’ve been one (run instead of two) if he (Rogers) hadn’t done that.

“I thought he’s definitely done something he shouldn’t have.

“So I thought that ball if he doesn’t want to be on strike then I’ll make it a bit easier for him.

“I think I was well within my right to do it, it’s in the rule book, it’s well within the rules.

“I just got my technique wrong, he was almost halfway down the wicket.

“Because it went upstairs we had time (to consider withdrawing the appeal).

“I’m not sure what decision I would’ve went with once the ruling had been made.

“Even if I got my Mankad technique right and (umpire) Gerard (Abood) said that’s probably going to be out, I don’t know what decision I would’ve come to.

“I’m a very competitive guy so I guess I saw red a little bit when he (Rogers) used that (stealing ground) to his advantage.”

Zampa said if he Mankaded a batsman earlier in the Renegades innings, rather than the third-last ball, he would be happy for it to serve as a warning rather than a dismissal.

“If it gets in that situation again I’m not saying I won’t do it, (but) particularly so late in the (Renegades’) innings with like two balls left, I know even if I Mankad someone and run him out, then they’ve still got three wickets in hand and Mackenzie Harvey is on strike anyway so it doesn’t really make that much difference to the game,” Zampa said.

Zampa has doubled down on his decision to attempt the Mankad. Picture: Getty Images

Rogers, who’s also a bowler, said that he wouldn’t Mankad a batsman, but also conceded he was “confused” by the rule.

“It gets a bit murky doesn’t it? If someone gets halfway down the wicket everyone [sic] is not too happy about it,” he said.

Rogers responded to the incident by taking career-best figures of 5-16, and while he admitted the Mankad attempt fired him up “a little bit”, he told reporters post-game that teammate Sam Harper was exaggerating when he told the broadcast that he was “fuming” about the incident.

Rogers said he was more psyched up about playing in front of 38,564 fans - the second-biggest crowd of the BBL season so far.

“It was just phenomenal ... so lucky to play cricket and 40,000 people roll out and watch us, it’s just bloody exciting,” he said.

“If you can’t get up and amped for that there’s something wrong with you.”

Above all, Zampa hoped the incident would help to further build up the rivalry between the two Melbourne teams.

“It always feels like something happens in these games that you can talk about for a little while, this is going to be it now, isn’t it,” he said.

“These competitions are built on rivalry and the Melbourne Renegades versus Melbourne Stars one is one of the most important ones in the competition so if it just sparked a little fire under the derby, then so be it.”

Rogers and Zampa shook hands and had a chat after the match. Picture: Getty Images

But he didn’t think it compared to the famous clash between the late great Shane Warne and Marlon Samuels 10 years ago.

“It will probably be in the news tomorrow and then everyone will forget about it,” he said.

While Peter Handscomb (heat stress) will be available for the Renegades’ next match against Hobart on Saturday, veteran Shaun Marsh (hamstring) is in serious doubt after injuring himself yet again against the Stars.

With captain Nic Maddinson (knee) out for the rest of the season, Rogers agreed the Renegades’ batting depth would be tested.

Meanwhile, Zampa would be surprised if Glenn Maxwell would feature for the Stars at all this summer after breaking his leg pre-season.

“It (injury) was only a few weeks ago and he hasn’t done any running yet so I’d assume not,” he said.

ZAMPA’S MANKAD FAIL BACKFIRES AS COACH FUMES

Melbourne Stars captain Adam Zampa unsuccessfully attempted to Mankad the Renegades’ Tom Rogers in a heated local derby at the MCG on Tuesday night which the Renegades convincingly won by 33 runs.

With the third-last ball of the Renegades’ final over, as he was coming into bowl, Zampa caught Rogers out of his crease and without hesitation took the bails off.

After conferring with the umpire, Zampa was determined to have Rogers dismissed if the third umpire deemed Rogers to be out.

But the TV replay showed Zampa’s arm went past the vertical in his bowling action, so Rogers survived before exchanging a few angry words with Zampa.

The Renegades fans expressed their displeasure by booing Zampa on multiple occasions, and repeated the dose when he came back out to bat late in the match.

Spicy, spicy scenes at the MCG.

Not out is the call...debate away, friends! #BBL12pic.twitter.com/N6FAjNwDO7

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 3, 2023

"If it had've been given out we would've withdrawn our appeal."

🤔🤔🤔 #BBL12pic.twitter.com/hxA1EVGWMO

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 3, 2023

Stars coach David Hussey later told Fox Sports that had Rogers been given out, the Stars would’ve asked for the decision to be reversed because it’s not the way he wants to play cricket.

The move backfired on Zampa spectacularly because after the Renegades trudged to a modest 7-141, their wicketkeeper Sam Harper told the broadcast that Rogers came into the rooms “fuming” at the Mankad attempt.

Rogers then proceeded to take career-best figures of 5-16 from his four overs, which was also the best bowling performance in Renegades history, as the Stars were held to their third-lowest total of 9-108 in front of 38,564 fans - the second-biggest crowd of the BBL season so far.

Adam Zampa attempts a mankad, however had completed his action, therefore it was given not out. Picture: Fox Cricket

Tom Rogers went on to take a five-wicket haul. Picture: Getty Images

A fired-up Rogers effectively channelled his anger almost immediately when he bowled Joe Clarke for a golden duck with the second ball of the Stars’ innings.

He then sent Beau Webster (eight) and namesake Tom Rogers (one) packing in the third over to rip through the Stars’ top order and by the time Will Sutherland had Marcus Stoinis (six) caught behind, the Stars were floundering at 4-18 in the fifth over.

Tom Rogers gets Tom Rogers and Tom Rogers has three at the MCG!

Admin loves it #BBL12pic.twitter.com/ugYwhwbXdm

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 3, 2023

Rogers struck again at the crucial time in the 11th over, just when the Stars looked like mounting a recovery, as he dismissed Hilton Cartwright (20 off 21 balls), after he put on 39 for the fifth wicket with Nick Larkin (48 not out off 40), which proved to be a mortal blow.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman also played a key role for the men in red and was basically unplayable, finishing with a magnificent 2-7 from four, including a maiden.

Originally published as BBL12 2023: Merv Hughes encourages kids to ‘Mankad’ despite Adam Zampa controversy