Historic 'timed out' dismissal shocks Cricket World Cup as Angelo Mathews falls foul of ICC rules

Posted : 06 November 2023

Controversy unfolded at the Cricket World Cup as Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews faced an unprecedented "timed out" dismissal, marking the first occurrence in the history of international cricket. Mathews, an all-rounder, encountered difficulties when a strap on his helmet broke.

After requesting a replacement helmet, he found himself out of compliance with the International Cricket Council's (ICC) stipulated two-minute limit for taking guard, leading to his dismissal – a unique event in the cricketing world.

Angelo Mathews entered the fray with his team's score at 134-4 during the World Cup match against Bangladesh in Delhi. Rather than hurrying, the former captain appeared unhurried as he headed toward the pitch, only to realize that the helmet strap was damaged.

He requested a replacement, but Bangladesh's captain, Shakib Al Hasan, took action by appealing to the umpires. After a lengthy discussion with the officials, Mathews seemingly attempted to withdraw the appeal with Shakib, but realizing it was futile, he departed for the dugout.

Visibly frustrated, Mathews expressed his disappointment as he left the field, venting his frustration by slamming his helmet down as he crossed the boundary. Head coach Chris Silverwood offered consolation to the experienced player.

This marked the first occurrence of a "timed out" dismissal in international cricket, spanning across all formats – Tests, one-day internationals, and T20s.

While Mathews' dismissal adhered to the laws of the game, it raised questions about whether it aligned with the "spirit of cricket," echoing incidents like Jonny Bairstow's controversial dismissal in the Ashes during the summer.

According to the ICC's World Cup playing conditions, rule 40.1.1 specifies that an incoming batter must be ready to receive the ball or for the other batter to face the next ball within two minutes of dismissal or retirement, failing which the incoming batter will be timed out.

Angelo Mathews, with extensive experience in international cricket, having played 106 Tests, 224 ODIs, and 78 T20s for Sri Lanka, was brought in as a late replacement to the original World Cup squad.

Historic 'timed out' dismissal shocks Cricket World Cup as Angelo Mathews falls foul of ICC rules

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