Mankading Attempt Heats Up BBL Clash
The drama unfolded at the Adelaide Oval during a Big Bash League (BBL) match on Tuesday night when Adelaide Strikers’ all-rounder Jamie Overton made a Mankading attempt on Perth Scorchers batter Finn Allen. The incident, witnessed by a crowd of 41,624, added fuel to an already fiery contest.
Overton, who was smashed for 18 runs in his first over during the Scorchers’ chase of 143, attempted the controversial dismissal during the eighth over. Allen was caught short of his crease at the non-striker’s end when Overton removed the bails. However, the England all-rounder ultimately told the umpire he wasn’t appealing, effectively giving Allen a warning instead.
The incident led to a heated exchange between Overton and Allen at the change of overs, prompting the umpire to step in. Overton didn’t bowl again for the remainder of the match, which the Scorchers won comfortably by seven wickets.
Commentators and Players Weigh In
Former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, commenting for Fox Cricket, noted Overton’s frustration:
“He told the umpire it was just a warning, but that confrontation with Allen has clearly gotten under his skin. Overton is a competitor, but that earlier exchange is still fresh in his mind.”
Jason Behrendorff, who was in the dugout at the time, shared his perspective during an on-air interview with Channel 7:
“Jamie’s fired up tonight. It’s clear he’s trying to get into the contest, but it might backfire. Finn and Coops are handling it well, and this might actually work in our favor.”
Meanwhile, former Australian coach Justin Langer argued that the dismissal should have stood:
“The goalposts have shifted. It’s out these days. Batters have had plenty of time to adjust and stay in their crease. Overton was well within his rights to send Allen packing.”
Greg Blewett, another former cricketer, echoed Langer’s sentiments, labeling non-strikers leaving their crease early as cheating:
“It’s frustrating in white-ball cricket when games get tight, and non-strikers start sprinting before the ball is delivered. That’s cheating, plain and simple.”
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Context of Mankading in Cricket
The incident reignited the Mankading debate, with parallels drawn to the infamous 2019 IPL incident where Indian all-rounder R. Ashwin dismissed England’s Jos Buttler in a similar fashion. The cricket world remains divided on the ethics of the dismissal, but the Laws of Cricket now explicitly allow it, with no requirement for a prior warning.
As for Overton, the fiery exchange overshadowed his poor performance with both bat and ball in the match. He managed only one run during Adelaide’s innings and leaked runs during his single over with the ball. While his competitive spirit was evident, the controversy didn’t help turn the tide for the Strikers, who were comprehensively outplayed.