Indian cricketer Cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin recently expressed his thoughts on the contentious dismissal of Angelo Mathews in a YouTube video.
Mathews, who labeled Shakib Al Hasan’s appeal as “disgraceful,” faced an unprecedented dismissal after adjusting his helmet before the first delivery.
As his chin strap came off, instead of seeking umpire permission, Mathews signaled for a spare helmet from the dugout. Shakib, informed about the rule by a teammate, promptly appealed for a timed-out dismissal, leading to Mathews walking off without facing a ball.
Ashwin acknowledged Mathews’ disappointment.
“One group emphasizes the rules, while the other focuses on the spirit of cricket. Mathews faced helmet issues when he came to bat and wished to replace it. In another video, I observed Shakib neglecting to bring his guard against Sri Lanka but was permitted to rectify it later. It seems like a battle between these two nations,” he said.
“Regarding the timed-out incident, Shakib appealed, and the umpire upheld it. It’s worth noting that there’s information suggesting that Mathews had been cautioned by the umpires about the timed-out rule. However, Mathews was understandably upset about his dismissal. No one should be out in that manner, it’s disheartening for everyone,” he added.
The veteran cricketer emphasized the ongoing debate between adhering to rules and maintaining the spirit of cricket.
Ashwin disclosed his own encounter with the timed-out rule during a Test match against Australia.
“I aimed to slow down the game to reach the last over and it can be called stumps. However, the umpire informed me, ‘You arrived at the crease a bit late. If they had appealed, I would have ruled you out.’ I was genuinely surprised,” he shared.