Sri Lankan batsman Angelo Mathews created history at the ongoing Cricket World Cup when he was the first batsman to be ruled out ” Timed Out” in international cricket in the game against Bangladesh played in New Delhi earlier today.
The rule reads ” Law 40 of the Laws of Cricket provides that an incoming batsman must be in position to take guard or for his partner to be ready to receive the next ball within three minutes of the fall of the previous wicket. If this requirement is not met, the incoming batsman will be given out, timed out, on appeal.
Angelo Mathews walked into bat when Sri Lanka had lost its 4th wicket that of Sadeera Samarawickrama when the score was 135 at the 24.2 over mark.
However, Mathews walked in with his helmet in hand had not realized that the strap was broken. He then signaled to the dressing room to send him a replacement helmet.
As time ticked by and with the Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hassen knowing that Mathews had broken this law then appealed to umpire Marais Erasmus, who after much haggling from Mathews signaled him out.
Former Pakistani cricketer Rameez Raja who was in the commentary box when this incident took place was incidentally the first cricketer to be out ” Obstructing the Field” in a One Day International Game against England in 1987.
