Mankad drama hits local cricket as Lara’s Rob Pehar runs out Newtown & Chilwell batter John Simson

The never-ending mankad debate has ignited in local cricket circles with even the coach of the club that implemented the controversial run out wishing his team had their time back. SEE THE FOOTAGE.

The controversial mankad is expected to become more common in local cricket after Newtown & Chilwell batter John Simson was run out using the contentious dismissal on Saturday.

The Two Blues were left bemused when Lara spinner Rob Pehar removed the bails while in his run up, catching Simson out of his ground.

Lara bowler Rob Pehar …

Caught John Simson out of his ground.

After the umpire confirmed Pehar’s appeal was genuine, Simson was sent packing.

While Newtown & Chilwell accepted the mankad as part of the game, coach Tom Meredith labelled it a “poor move” given the Two Blues only needed three runs to win and comfortably clinched the GCA1 match off the very next ball.

Pehar had warned Meredith about the potential to run him out at the bowler’s end earlier in the innings.

“We weren’t keen on it in the state of the situation of the game, that was a bit of a poor move,” Meredith said.

“You can’t argue with the mankad. It is within the rules. We wouldn’t do it but you have got to stay in our crease now.

“As long as you give a warning, I think it is probably fair.”

Lara coach Casey Young conceded that using the mankad when the contest was essentially over may have been a mistake, but the controversial dismissal would become more widely used in the local game.

Lara’s Casey Young Picture: Mark Wilson

“In hindsight, we probably would have our time over and do things differently but in terms of moving forward it is becoming a little bit more accepted and legitimised as a dismissal,” he said.

“It is something that all cricket teams are going to have considerations about moving forward.

“It does show how aware Robbie Pehar is as a cricketer of the surroundings of the game and how forward thinking he is. Not condoning the dismissal in the scenario it occurred but it is more of a reflection of how rounded he is as a cricketer and aware of the game.”

The mankad – named for champion Indian all-rounder Vinoo mankad – has long split the cricket community, with many considering the run out outside the spirit of the game.

It occurs when the nonstriking batter leaves the crease before the bowler has released the ball and the bowler clips off the bails.

Tom Meredith batting for Newtown & Chilwell. Picture: Wes Cusworth

The dismissal is perfectly legal and has crept more into the game in recent years with the growth of short-form cricket tempting more batters to get a head start.

Young said “more clubs more broadly” would consider the mankad going forward and Meredith said it had to be on the mind of nonstrikers.

“I wouldn’t like our team to do it to be honest, it doesn’t sit right with me but we have to be switched on to it,” Meredith said.

Originally published as Mankad drama hits local cricket as Lara’s Rob Pehar runs out Newtown & Chilwell batter John Simson