'It Is The Batter Who Gains An Unfair Advantage': Murali Kartik Welcomes MCC's New Laws Of Cricket

Former Indian bowler Murali Kartik supported the new cricket laws drafted by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). On Wednesday, the MCC drafted some new amendments to the game which included the contentious law to run out of batters at the non-striker’s end popularly known as ‘Mankading’.

Originally classified under Law 41 (Unfair Play), whenever a bowler dismisses a batter at the non-striker’s end when he/she is short of the crease before the bowler is about to bowl, has always created divided opinions across the globe.

Ravichandran Ashwin mankading Jos Buttler. Photo- IPL
Ravichandran Ashwin mankading Jos Buttler. Photo- IPL

However, the rule has been moved to Law 38 (Run Out) in order to legitimise the mode of dismissal and not show the bowler in a bad light in the theory of spirit of the game.

It’s the batter who gains an unfair advantage and you are blaming the bowler: Murali Kartik

Kartik welcomed the amendments of MCC and criticised the ones who have always brought the concept of ‘spirit of cricket’ to ridicule the bowlers who take the courage to run out the batters at the non-striker’s end.

“There is spirit of cricket. But what I have always argued is that this is not ‘spirit of cricket’. That people who are actually flouting it were the ones hiding behind the garb of ‘spirit of cricket’. It was a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black. It’s the batter who gains an unfair advantage and you are blaming the bowler and calling him wrong?” Kartik told news agency PTI. 

Read More  Prithvi Shaw won't play in IPL 2024 any further? Sourav Ganguly provides a jaw-dropping update

“That is what my fight has been. I have always told people I would have ran all 11 out if allowed, I have done it five times. Never ever have I felt any lack of support because I have always believed it is right and just because nobody else is believing it, does not mean that it is not right,” he added. 

It should change the mindset of batters: Murali Kartik

Kartik played 46 matches for India across all formats of international cricket in the period between 2000-07. The former left-arm spinner believes that batters have plenty of advantages under the laws of ICC and it is time for the bowlers to have something on the plate for their benefit.

“It should change the mindset of batters. I will give you a simple example. Look at T20 cricket, just recently the penalty of one less fielder outside the 30-yard circle has been introduced by the ICC in case the last over of an innings doesn’t start in the stipulated time,” Kartik said. 

Murali-Kartik
Murali-Kartik. Image: Twitter

“Look at over rates, teams are finishing overs in the time since there is a penalty. It’s enforcement and it’s like on certain roads, it’s 60 kmph and if you drive at 80 kmph, the cops will haul will you up. It was always legal but now it has to be enforced properly.”

“Finally, the bowlers are being empowered in a big way…only a few people had the conviction to believe in what they were doing as most were always scared of the wrath they will incur and fury it might cause. Others have always been shy of doing it,” he added. 

Read More  Watch- Virender Sehwag insults MS Dhoni on air, compares him to other CSK players

The changes penned by the MCC are up to the ICC and other national boards to adopt or endorse them. The changes will come into effect from October 1.

Also Read: Was Always Uncomfortable That Dismissal Being Called Mankaded – Sachin Tendulkar Welcomes MCC’s Rule Changes