Buttler calls for Mankad overhaul

Jos Buttler has vowed he will never be dismissed by a Mankad again after he was out in the controversial manner during this year's IPL tournament for the second time in his career, and called for the Law around the dismissal to be tightened.

Rajasthan Royals wicketkeeper-batsman Buttler was run out while backing up by Kings XI Punjab captain Ravi Ashwin during an IPL match last week, with the dismissal dividing the cricket world.

It proved a match-turning dismissal as Rajasthan folded in their run chase, and Buttler admits the fallout distracted him in his next two innings, where he just scored 5 and 6.

"At the time, I was really disappointed with it. I didn't like the style of it," Buttler said as he did a round of interviews with British media.

"What was more disappointing is that suddenly over the next two games I found myself being really conscious of it and it is quite distracting.

"That is why it was nice to get some runs in the win (earlier this week, when he scored 59) and get back to thinking about batting and not worrying about how I back up at the non-striker's end."

The bitter taste of the Mankad still lingers for the England international, who had previously been out to a Mankad in an ODI against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston in 2014.

Buttler's dismissal by Ashwin was legal according to the letter of Law 41.6, but ambiguity arose about the way Ashwin went out it.

The wording of the Law states: "If the non-striker is out of his/her ground at any time from the moment the ball comes into play until the instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, the non-striker is liable to be run out."

That 'expected release' is what caused the controversy, with Ashwin pausing in his delivery stride to wait for Buttler to back up out of his crease before running him out.

The MCC, custodian of the game's Laws, said while the run out was legal, in their view Ashwin's pause was not in keeping with the spirit of the game.

"Of course a Mankading has to be in the Laws of the game because a batsman can't just run halfway down the pitch trying to get a head start," Buttler said.

"But I do think, the way the law is written, there is a bit of a grey area in that saying 'when a bowler is expected to release the ball'. That is a bit of a wishy-washy statement.

"I think if you look at the footage, probably the wrong decision was made because at the time he was expected to release the ball I was in my crease.

"I didn't like what happened and I didn't agree with it, but what can you do?

"I must be the only person to get out twice in that way as well. I'll make sure it never happens again."

Buttler is not the first man to be dismissed twice in this fashion – Australian Bill Brown was twice run out backing up at the non-striker's end by Vinoo Mankad, after whom the dismissal is now known, in 1947-48.

Buttler, who said he does "generally walk" rather than wait for an umpire's decision, said he worried about the example set by the dismissal.

"I just thought it was a bad precedent at the start of the tournament," Buttler said.

"I'd hope, whether it was a written thing or not, that players – as custodians of the game, role models to young kids and professional people – would carry themselves in a certain way and play the game hard and competitive but play in what I perceive to be the right way, which is in a good spirit. Play hard but fair."