Stories
No Catch, No Bowled... Batsman Out Before Stepping on Crease: Cricket's Most Ruthless Rule.
- •Cricket's 'timed out' rule is a rare and controversial dismissal where a batsman is out without facing a ball.
- •The rule applies if a new batsman fails to be ready to play within a stipulated time after a wicket falls.
- •MCC laws allow 3 minutes, but ICC Playing Conditions for international cricket set the limit at 2 minutes.
- •In T20 Internationals, the time limit is stricter at 90 seconds, and a 'timed out' dismissal results in a 'diamond duck'.
- •Angelo Mathews was the first international cricketer to be timed out, followed by Godfred Bakiveyem and Ritshi Choden.
Key Questions Answered
According to the International Cricket Council's Playing Conditions for international cricket, an incoming batsman must be ready to face the next ball within two minutes. This is a reduction from the Marylebone Cricket Club's traditional three-minute limit, implemented to reduce unnecessary delays and maintain match pace.
In T20 international cricket, the time limit is even stricter due to the fast-paced nature of the format. A new batsman has only 90 seconds to come onto the field and be ready to play the next ball after a wicket falls.
Sri Lankan veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews became the first player to be timed out in international cricket. The historic incident occurred on November 6, 2023, during an ODI World Cup match against Bangladesh when he experienced issues with his helmet strap.
