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‘Disgraceful’: Shane Warne leads condemnation of Ravi Ashwin’s low act

Shane Warne has led a furious attack by cricket legends on Indian bowler Ravi Ashwin after an “embarrassment” he will never live down.

Jai BednallJai Bednall
@jaibednall
4 min read
March 26, 2019 - 10:16AM
Was Ravi Ashwin's 'mankad' a dog act or genius?

Shane Warne says Ravi Ashwin’s reputation will forever be tarnished after the Indian spinner’s controversial run out of English batsman Jos Buttler in the Indian Premier League on Monday night.

A match between the Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab exploded when Ashwin took the bails off at the non-striker’s end while Buttler was backing up.

The dismissal widely known as Mankading is considered to be against cricket’s spirit of fair play and Buttler, who scored 69 off 43 deliveries, walked dejectedly back to the pavilion after an argument with Ashwin.

Warne led a chorus of outrage on social media. “So disappointed in Ravi Ashwin as a captain and as a person,” Warne wrote. “All captains sign the IPL wall and agree to play in the spirit of the game. (Ashwin) had no intention of delivering the ball — so it should have been called a dead ball. Over to you BCCI — this a not a good look for the IPL.

“Ashwin’s actions were simply disgraceful and I hope the BCCI doesn’t condone this sort of behaviour in the IPL.

“As captain of your side you set the standard of the way the team wants to play and what the team stands for! Why do such a disgraceful and low act like that tonight? You must live with yourself and FYI — it’s to late to say sorry Mr Ashwin. You will be remembered for that low act.

“Any player in the game that does that to anyone is an embarrassment to the game and as captain it’s even more disgraceful.”

Former England captain Michael Vaughan added: “If Jos Buttler had been warned well that’s fine... if he hasn’t and it’s the first time I think Ravi Ashwin is completely out of order

“Watch how often this happens from now on!”

ASHWIN: ‘IT’S IN THE RULES’

The term Mankading — used when a bowler runs out a non-striker before delivery — was coined 70 years ago when Indian all-rounder Vinoo mankad twice ran out Bill Brown at the bowler’s end during India’s tour of Australia in 1947.

Ashwin defended his action, saying Buttler had gone too early. “On my part it was very instinctive and it was not planned or anything like that,” Ashwin said at a post-game press conference.

“It is there in the rules of the game. I don’t know where the understanding of the spirit of the game comes from because quite naturally if it’s there in the rules, it’s there.

“So probably the rules need to go back and be sorted.”

“I didn’t even load and he left the crease. It’s always been my take on it, because it’s my half of the crease,” Ashwin added.

“We ended on the right side of it but those things are game-changers and batsmen need to be wary of it.”

Jos Buttler exchanges words Ravi Ashwin. (Photo by Money SHARMA / AFP)
Jos Buttler exchanges words Ravi Ashwin. (Photo by Money SHARMA / AFP)

Royals skipper Ajinkya Rahane also attempted to play down the controversy and said his team would take it “sportingly”.

“We are not supposed to comment on a controversial issue. The match referee will take the call,” he said.

But Royals coach Paddy Upton was miffed. “I looked at his team-mates and I’m not sure it represented his team-mates,” Upton said. “I think we’ll leave it up to the IPL fans to decide if that’s the kind of things they want to see, and we’ll leave it up to the cricket world to judge Ashwin’s actions tonight. But for us, we’re certainly here to play cricket and entertain the fans and be good role models for people who love the game.”

There was widespread outrage from cricketers across the globe.

But there was some support for Ashwin too.

SMITH’S RETURN OVERSHADOWED

The match marked the return of Australia’s Steve Smith, who scored 20 for the Royals as they lost by 14 runs.

Big-hitting Chris Gayle smashed 79 off 47 deliveries to steer Kings XI to 4/184, before they restricted the Royals to 9/170.

Smith, who along with compatriot David Warner made his return to the IPL after missing the previous edition due to a ball-tampering controversy, walked out into a charged field of play.

The former Australia captain took time to settle down before hitting England paceman Sam Curran for a four and six in one over.

Curran, who took two wickets, got his revenge in his very next over as he sent Smith trudging back to the pavilion with KL Rahul taking a sharp catch while running to his left from long-on.

The Kings XI bowlers soon struck back as the Royals batting collapsed from 2/148 to 9/164 as a disappointed Smith looked on from the dugout.

On Sunday, Warner enjoyed a run-filled comeback to the world’s most popular T20 league, scoring 85 off 53 balls for Sunrisers Hyderabad, who also lost their opening match.

Bans from state and international cricket for Smith and Warner end on March 28 but the duo are keen to get among the runs in the IPL, ahead of the 50-over World Cup starting in May.

The suspension did not include club games but IPL’s governing council decided not to allow the disgraced duo in the 11th edition of the T20 league last year in a bid to avoid controversy.

The pair were banned for cheating in a Cape Town Test in March last year along with teammate Cameron Bancroft, whose nine-month ban has already finished.

— with AFP

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/disgraceful-shane-warne-leads-condemnation-of-ravi-ashwins-low-act/news-story/aa1e82c6fc86ea5991603a2c5aa41cb8