The act of running out a non-striker who opts to steal ground is within the laws of the game: MCC

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has reiterated yet again that the dismissal of a non-striker by a bowler for leaving the crease before the ball has been delivered is within the laws of the game. The custodian of the laws governing cricket, also said that it is the batter’s responsibility to not try and steal ground. However, the current and former players have raised different opinions regarding the same. 

“The WCC… (MCC’s World Cricket committee) is now calling for calm across all levels of the game, from the grassroots level of recreational cricket to the elite level, given that the act of running out a non-striker who opts to steal ground is within the laws of the game," MCC said in a statement as quoted by News18.

Meanwhile, former Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara, a member of the MCC’s World Cricket Committee (WCC), said that the bowler is not the villain in these kinds of dismissals. The batting legend added that the batters who are stealing the ground are breaking the law.

“The bowler is not the villain here. Every batter has a choice; to stay in their ground, or risk being given out if they try to steal ground. If they choose the latter, they are the ones who are breaking the Law," Sangakkara said.

'Our stance on this is simple - batters must not steal ground', says Mike Getting

Mike Gatting, WCC (World Cricket Committee) chairman, admitted that legitimizing such dismissals may help batters to learn the lesson. He also added that WCC’s stance is simple; no batter should steal the ground if they do not want to be dismissed in such a way.

“We have seen suggestions that this method of dismissal will be attempted more and more at the recreational level and there is the possibility of matches descending into chaos. Whilst attempts may increase in the short term, we would expect batters to learn their responsibilities under the Laws very quickly and drive it out of prominence,” he said.

“Our stance on this is simple - batters must not steal ground if they do not wish to be given out in this manner. Nor should they be expecting to be given a warning if they do. If all non-strikers only left the popping crease once the ball had been released, there would never be the need for such a dismissal again,” he added.

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