Cricket world in uproar after 'shameful' act leaves batter in tears

Indian bowler Deepti Sharma has sparked fresh debate over the legitimacy of the 'Mankad' dismissal in cricket after controversial scenes at the end of a women's ODI clash against England on Friday.

England were eyeing a remarkable win in the third one-dayer at Lord's, needing 17 runs off the final 39 balls with just one wicket in hand.

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However controversy erupted when Sharma ran out Charlie Dean at the non-striker's end, who was well out of her ground, for the match-winning wicket.

Sharma appeared to be trying to trick Dean into leaving her crease early, waiting for the non-striker to leave her ground before taking off the bails.

The 'Mankad' is named after Indian bowler Vinoo Mankad - the first player to use the controversial method of dismissal in a Test match against Australia in 1948.

Just last week the ICC moved to legitimise the dismissal, taking it out of a section under 'unfair play' in its official rule book and into the section about run-outs.

However the change won't come into affect until next month's T20 World Cup, and the cricket world is still clearly uneasy about its place in the game.

Immediately after the third umpire upheld the decision, Dean threw her bat to the ground in tears as boos rang out from the crowd.

England all-rounder Georgia Elwiss, who was not playing in the match, was not impressed.

"Has that not just left the sourest taste in the mouth at the end of this international summer? I'm dumbfounded," she said on BBC Test Match Special.

“I cannot believe the Indian team felt that was the only way they were going to get a wicket. I don’t think Charlie Dean was trying to gain any sort of advantage. It’s ridiculous.

“For me, Harmanpreet Kaur has got to look at her side and think, ‘is that how we want to win games of cricket?’ Can she not withdraw that appeal?

“It’s taken the shine off Jhulan Goswami’s big send-off. She’s doing the lap of honour but everyone else in the ground is just stunned at how it’s finished.”

Former England spinner Alex Hartley said: “I just don’t think that’s how you should finish an international game. England are going to be absolutely seething.”

India captain defends controversial Mankad dismissal

However India captain Kaur insisted her side had committed no "crime", defending Sharma's actions.

"Today whatever we have done I don't think it was any crime, it is part of the game and it is an ICC rule and I think we just need to back our player," Kaur said.

"I don't think (Sharma) has done something wrong and we just need to back her."

England bowler Kate Cross said she would never take a wicket in that fashion, but added: "I think it's a dismissal that's always going to divide opinion. That's all that's ever going to get said about it: some people are going to like it, some people aren't.

"Deepti chose to dismiss Charlie Dean that way. I'm more disappointed for Charlie Dean that she couldn't get a 50 at Lord's today because she looked set to do that.

"If we're looking at the real positives, then maybe that's the only way they could have got Deano out today."

Social media was also in uproar over the controversial dismissal, with a number of players also weighing in.

with agencies

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