Sri Lanka batsman Angelo Mathews was timed out during Monday’s Cricket World Cup fixture against Bangladesh in Delhi, India.
Mathews arrived at the crease with a faulty helmet. He was attempting to have the helmet replaced when Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan appealed.
South African Marais Erasmus and Englishman Richard Illingworth are the match umpires.
“The fielding captain initiated the appeal to Marais Erasmus, who was the standing umpire, that he wanted to appeal for timed out,” reserve umpire Adrian Holdstock told Star Sports.
“As a batsman I think you need to make sure that you have all your equipment in place in order to make sure you get here, because you actually have to be ready to receive the ball within two minutes – not ready to prepare or take your guard.”
This is the first time a player has been timed out in international cricket.
Cricket World Cup’s playing conditions rules for timed out
“After the fall of a wicket or the retirement of a batter, the incoming batter must, unless time has been called, be ready to receive the ball, or for the other batter to be ready to receive the next ball within two minutes of the dismissal or retirement. If this requirement is not met, the incoming batter will be out, timed out,” state an extract from the playing conditions for the Cricket World Cup.
“In the event of an extended delay in which no batter comes to the wicket, the umpires shall adopt the procedure of law 16.3 (umpires awarding a match). For the purposes of that law the start of the action shall be taken as the expiry of the two minutes referred to above. The bowler does not get credit for the wicket.”
Timed out in first-class cricket
Players have been timed out six times in the recorded history of first-class cricket.
- Eastern Province’s Andrew Jordaan was not out overnight against Transvaal during the 1987-88 domestic season in South Africa. The next day, he could not reach the venue due to flooded roads and was timed out.
- Tripura’s Hemulal Yadav was conversing with the team manager during 1997-98’s Indian domestic season fixture against Orissa. He did not attempt to reach the creased and was timed out.
- West Indian Vasbert Drakes was timed out during Border’s match against Free State in 2002. He was on an airplane flight at the time.
- Nottinghamshire’s Andrew Harris was timed out during 2003’s England domestic fixture against Durham University. Limited by a groin strain, he was timed out en route to the crease.
- Combined Campuses and Colleges player Ryan Austin was timed out during the 2013-14 West Indian domestic season.
- Mountaineers player Charles Kunje was timed out during the 2017-2018 Zimbabwe domestic season.