Adam Zampa has come under fire for an attempted 'Mankad' in Tuesday night's Big Bash match between the Stars and Renegades, with plenty across the cricket community condemning the move.
In a highly-controversial moment, the Aussie leg-spinner attempted to run-out Renegades bowler Tom Rogers at the non-striker's end while bowling.
The decision from the third umpire was not-out, due to the fact Zampa's bowling arm had gone past the vertical point of his bowling action when he attempted to dismiss Rogers.
Zampa was visibly irritated by the incident and put his finger up immediately to signal that Rogers was out, before offering some words to his opponent following the review decision.
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While technically a Mankad is within the laws of the game, it is frowned upon by the wider cricket community and the fans at the MCG let Zampa know their thoughts in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
Stars coach David Hussey said that the side would have withdrawn their appeal if the decision had gone the other way.
“I spoke to Zamps already and he said if it had of been given out, we would have withdrawn our appeal anyway,” he told Fox Cricket.
“It’s not the right way to play cricket, yet it was more of a warning for the batter not to leave too early because at the end of the innings, that’s generally what happens.”
But despite the decision being not-out and Hussey's revelation of the Stars removing their appeal if it was the other way around, the incident has led to widespread debate from ex-players and fans on social media.
Australian great Brett Lee said he doesn't like the rule as a whole, but believes the onus should be put back on the batsmen to ensure they aren't leaving their crease early to gain an advantage.
“If he goes past where he’s meant to let go of the ball there - it’s deemed you can’t actually Mankad the batsman," he said on Fox Cricket.
“I don’t like that rule, I don’t like the Mankad rule whatsoever, I reckon they should take it out of their hands.
“The best way to do it is to say to the batsman, if you leave your crease, you get docked five runs.
"Take it away from the bowler - I just don’t like seeing that in the game of cricket.”
Zampa himself was questioned over the attempted Mankad in a post-game interview with Channel 7 and explained his thought process in what was the final over of the Renegades' innings, as well as defending his actions while speaking with Fox Cricket.
“I felt like Tom Rogers took advantage of that the ball before...in the situation of the game, even if I had Mankadded him and got my technique right, it wouldn’t have mattered too much," he said.
"Kane Richardson would have been at the other end and Mackenzie Harvey would have still been on strike. Gerard said straight away that it was not-out – apparently you can’t roll your arm over.
"I don’t know what he would have done if he said it was out…I need to get my technique right. If it was the 10th over and I was bowling to two batsmen who were seriously going to change the outcome of the game, I would probably consider not doing it and probably a warning.
"In this scenario of the game, it didn’t really matter too much – it’s not going to change the game too much. He took advantage of that the ball before and I thought why not."
🗣 Adam Zampa responds to why he attempted to 'Mankad' Tom Rogers#BBL12 pic.twitter.com/3qoIb8OsAx
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Adam Zampa had his say after the game... 🗣
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Former Australian batsman Brad Hodge expressed his disdain for Zampa's actions on Channel 7 commentary on Tuesday night.
“I’m not quite sure exactly why he did it…he’s got his opposition in a world of pain, I don’t think Tom Rogers was clearly trying to take an advantage," he said.
"Regardless of the laws, I don’t like it at all. There’s no need for it and I don’t think it’s a good look.
"Maybe there is some hatred between the two, I don’t know."
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Speaking to Fox Cricket, the part-time PE teacher said he was just excited to get out there and do his job with the ball against the local rivals.
It's a 5-fa for Tom Rogers!
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“Obviously there was a bit of spice toward the back end of the innings...it’s probably a different way to how I’d go about things," Rogers said.
“Nothing too much was said...when it came up not out, I was pretty stoked actually.
“It’s been a bit of the flavour of the month, so I was actually trying to stay in my crease as long as I could – I was pretty happy the not out came up. I didn’t think I’d left too early.
“I was pretty excited to get out there with the ball.”