Former Indian skipper Sunil Gavaskar on Saturday (April 6) has slammed the term ‘Mankading’. The legendary cricketer remarked that it is spoiling the name of veteran Vinoo Mankad. The Test specialist Mankad has represented India between 1946 and 1959. He featured in 44 Tests to amass 2,109 runs at an average of 31.5. The right-handed batsman had extraordinary skills to boast about.
Gavaskar in his column for Times of India wrote it adds disrespect to the game of greats. The incident came to the light again when Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) skipper Ravichandran Ashwin saw Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) batsman Jos Buttler ambling forward before whipping off the bails.
Also, the heated exchange between Buttler and Ashwin has dampened the early kick-off of the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) season 12.
Sunil Gavaskar wants Indian media to term it Browned rather than Mankaded:
In a layman’s term, Mankading comes into play when batsman aims for a head start at the non-striker’s end and the bowler before his delivery stride attempt for a run-out.
While terming the then journalist ‘lazy’ who coined the term ‘Mankaded’ Gavaskar feels it’s a pretty sad sight for the Indian cricket. The first-ever incident happened during a 1947 Test match when Mankading took place.
Well, following a couple of warnings to Bill Brown, Mankad ran him out at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
“Just because over 70 years back a lazy foreign journalist called a run-out of Bill Brown — the Australian non-striker — for backing up out of his crease by Vinoo Mankad as being ‘Mankaded’, the term has stuck,” Gavaskar wrote for the ToI.
The former opener added it’s disheartening to go through Indian publications recently. He expressed sadness to witness run-out by a bowler is labelled as ‘Mankading’.
“It really has been depressing and disappointing reading the Indian media over the last few days. The lack of respect shown to an Indian legend. And referring the run-out by a bowler as ‘Mankad’ is indeed very sad,” Gavaskar stated.
Mankaded or Browned?
While questioning why the run-out affected by a bowler is termed as “Mankad”, Gavaskar has recalled some cheeky moments happened on the field in the past.
“Does a batsman who stays at the crease despite knowing he has nicked the ball ever referred to as doing a WG after a legendary batsman of yore? Is a fielder who claims a catch when the ball has bounced before settling in his palms ever called doing a Waugh after the former skipper ‘caught’ Brian Lara in the West Indies? Then why is a run-out of the non-striker backing out of his crease called Mankad?” Gavaskar mentioned.
He added if the name is pretty clear then what cheating acts should be referred to as?
In addition, the 69-year-old cricketer-turned-commentator Gavaskar has taken a sly dig at a certain quarter.
“If that is a sharp practice, what are the above-mentioned acts? Sporting? In the spirit of the game?” Gavaskar added.
However, Gavaskar wants media in Indian media to refer ‘Mankading’ as ‘Browned’. He has further cautioned media to avoid spoiling the image of prominent Indian cricketer.
“Hopefully, at least the Indian media will henceforth refer it as ‘Browned’ after the Australian who was the one at fault or simply refer to it as ‘run-out by the bowler’ instead of tarnishing a legend’s name,” Gavaskar concluded.
Meanwhile, the ongoing season 12 of the IPL is marred by umpiring howlers. Plus, the Mankading issue has become a hot debate, of late.