My thoughts on the Mathews-Shakib issue.
You have to believe the umpires. If they say two minutes had elapsed, they had because these are vastly experienced, and very good, umpires and they are unlikely to make those mistakes.
Second, ignorance of the law is no defence. If the law is there and you have infringed it, you don't have a leg to stand upon.
Shakib was within his rights to appeal and it is not for us to decide whether or not he should have. That is his decision, that is how he wants to play.
This case is different though from backing up too far at the non-striker's end. There the batter is seeking, or getting, an unfair advantage and the bowler must run him out if possible. But here Mathews was getting no advantage nor was he seeking any. Batters routinely pick up a ball in play to give it to the bowler or a fielder and no one appeals, though careful batters ask if they can. Ditto here, if Mathews had asked if it was okay to change his helmet, I am certain there would have been no appeal. To that extent, it was unfortunate. I would run a non-striker out every day of the week but I wouldn't appeal for this.
And let us leave spirit of cricket out of this. It is a weak argument often used by those that are ignorant or at the wrong end of a mistake. There are laws and you play within them. Beyond that, how to play the game is an individual choice.
Mathews and Sri Lankan fans can be disappointed and angry but as per the laws of the game, he was out
@GautamGambhir@Angelo69Mathews wah wah! sadda kutta tommy apna kutta kutta!
Any indian does it and well within the limit. Read what Harsha bhogle said!
@Angelo69Mathews Still can't understand ? when 2 minutes is over you are not ready to take the ball! You directly called for the dressing room without requesting the umpires or Shakib if you can do it!
by law an appeal can be made! 20 years into this and still don't know? Ignorance is not bliss!
@Uz_Khawaja@Angelo69Mathews Get your facts rights first and listen to what Adrian Holdstock (the 4th umpire) said. ICC rule is 2 minutes and he was close to 3 minutes when his stap broke! Well within the law to appeal.
Even when Angelo was captain he supported a Mankad of an english player!