Angelo Mathews Makes Unprecedented History with 'Timed Out' Dismissal in International Cricket

Here I write about controversial moment happen (Angelo Mathews given Timed Out) in world cup match and make history in international cricket. So let's understand what actually going on the field.

In a historic turn of events, Angelo Mathews found himself on the wrong side of cricketing records as he became the first international batter to be dismissed 'timed out' during the World Cup clash between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Delhi on Monday, November 6, 2023. This unique incident took place at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, and it has stirred the cricketing world.

Mathews timed out first in history of international cricket

The 'timed out' dismissal came in the 25th over of the first innings when Shakib Al Hasan, the Bangladesh captain, made a successful appeal. The on-field umpires approached Shakib twice to confirm his appeal, ensuring a fair decision. According to the International Cricket Council (ICC) Playing Conditions for the World Cup, the incoming batter must be "ready to receive the ball" within two minutes of a dismissal or a batter retiring. This rule has been in effect in One Day International (ODI) cricket since June 2023. For Test matches, the corresponding time limit is three minutes, and for Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), it stands at 90 seconds.

The sequence of events leading to Mathews' historic dismissal began when Sadeera Samarawickrama was dismissed at 15:49 local time according to the official scorers. Mathews walked in to bat at 15:50 local time, but trouble soon followed. His helmet strap came off as he was preparing to take his stance, but the fourth umpire, Adrian Holdstock, revealed that Mathews had already exceeded the two-minute time limit by the time his equipment malfunctioned.

Speaking about the incident, Holdstock explained, "In the instance this afternoon, the batter wasn't ready to receive the ball within those two minutes even before the [helmet] strap became an issue for him. The opposite captain initiated the appeal to Marais Erasmus who is on field umpire, that he wanted to appeal for timed out.

Crucially, the TV umpire played a significant role in monitoring the two-minute window and subsequently conveyed the message to the on-field umpires. The incident highlights the importance of batters ensuring all their equipment is in place within the two-minute time frame, not just for taking guard but for being prepared to receive the ball.

As the Bangladesh players celebrated this rare feat, Angelo Mathews departed the field in frustration. He was seen displaying his helmet to the head coach, Chris Silverwood, before throwing it in anger and heading towards the dressing room.

This unique 'timed out' dismissal marked the seventh occurrence in men's cricket but was the first of its kind in 50-over cricket. The previous six instances of 'timed out' dismissals had all taken place in first-class cricket.

Angelo Mathews' unexpected entry into the history books serves as a reminder to all cricketers that adherence to the ICC Playing Conditions is crucial, emphasizing the need for batters to be prompt and prepared as they step onto the international stage. This unusual episode will undoubtedly be remembered in the annals of cricket history as a testament to the importance of punctuality and readiness in the sport.