Timed-Out In Cricket: Cricket Rule Explained with Examples

Timed out is an interesting method of dismissal in cricket that was introduced in cricket laws in the 1980s. Angleo Methew has become the first batsman dismissed due to the timed-out law in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.

Everyone is shocked about this dismissal, and a lot of complex questions arise. How could he get out of the game without facing the ball? Further, what is timed-out in cricket?

So, this post is going to clear up all your questions about timed-out cricket. Moreover, if you are a batsman or cricket enthusiast, you should be aware of timed-out and other cricket laws.  

What is Timed Out In Cricket?

The specific method of dismissal in which a batsman is considered to be out due to a delay in assuming the batting position is called timed-out in cricket.

In timed-out, the batsman is not ready to play in a given amount of time.  Interestingly, you can call it a diamond or platinum duck. Because the batter is out of the game without facing the ball.

The objective of this rule is to establish the importance of time in the game so that there will be no unnecessary delay.

In international cricket 2023, it happened for the first timeout incident happened in first-class cricket as a whole. 

Timed Out Cricket Law

According to Law 40 of the Cricket Rules, the batter should be ready to play after the previous batter receives the next ball in a given amount of time after the fall of the previous wicket. Moreover, if the requirement is not met, the batsman will be given out. 

More importantly, the amount of time depends on the playing condition of the match. 

According to Law 40, the amount of time is 3 minutes. But it was modified so that for test cricket, the amount of time is 2 minutes.

 Moreover, the period of time is shortened to approximately 90 seconds for ODI and T20 cricket.   

To avoid timed-out, the batsman should be in batting position immediately when the previous batsman is out or retired. The rule for an incoming batter is that he is the only person who has not batted yet. But the prescribed order is not seen in the game. 

Another important thing is that if the batsman is not present on the cricket field and the bowling team appeals for the batsman, then the captain can use a strategy and order another cricketer to bat so as to prevent the batsman from being timed out in cricket. But if the next batter shows a slight delay, then the team would be expected to lose the batsman. 

Although another cricketer does not come in place of the incoming batsman, for batting, the umpire will follow the appeal of the opposing team.

 According to Law 16.3, the umpire awards the match to the opposing team.

Furthermore, if players do not come for batting on command of the captain because they are not eligible for batting, then they are not given out.

Timed Out Dismissal In Test Matches

In the 2006-2007 cricket test match series at Cape Town’s Newlands Cricket Ground between India and South Africa, India faced a timed-out phenomenon as he lost two batters at the start of the second innings. Sachin Tendulkar was the fourth batter, but at the end of the South Africa first inning, he had been replaced as fielder for 18 minutes. 

But there was complexity, and Tendulkar was unable to bat. So six minutes were delayed in the game. Sourav Ganguly stood in as the next batter. Hence, Graeme Smith, the captain of South Africa, did not appeal for a timed-out in cricket. Consequently, Ganguly was allowed to score. 

Interestingly, this type of incident was also faced in the 2023 Ashes Series during the second test match. When Australia defeated England, a timed-out dismissal occurred for Australian player Nathan Lyon.

Timed Out Dismissal In ODI Match

The first player to be timed out during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is Sri Lankan Angelo Mathews. This incident occurred during the ODI World Cup 2023 in Delhi on November 6.

When the match was played between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Angleo Methews had an issue with the strap of his helmet, and he did not come into his batting position in time. The incident occurred on the 25th of the Sri Lankan batting inning. 

The Bangladesh captain, Shakib Al Hasan, appealed to the umpire to order the Mathews to leave the ground. Mathews tried his best to explain all the matter and cleared it, but all in vain.

He reached the pitch after 2 minutes. So according to MCC, the new batsman must face the bat in the first 2 minutes. But he was late. However, Mathews became the first batsman to be out without facing the ball in international cricket.

 If you want to get the whole scenario of this incident, you can go to this post Angelo Mathews: First Batter In History To Be Timed-Out in International Cricket

Timed Out Dismissal In First Class Cricket

In cricket, timed-out dismissals have occurred six times. These player names are listed below:

1. In 1987-88, Andrew Jordaan did not reach the ground when the match was played between Eastern Province and Transvaal.
2. During the match between Tripura and Orissa in 1997–98, Hemulal Yadav did not reach the crease because he was busy in conversation with his team manager. 
3. In Border vs. Free State at East London in 2002, Vasbert Drakes was dismissed from the match due to a timed-out. 
4. In a 2003 match between Nottinghamshire and Durham, AJ Harris was dismissed because he was suffering from a groin strain and could not reach the crease. 
5. The match between the teams Combined Campuses and Colleges vs. Windward Islands Ryan Austin faced a timed-out in 2013-14.
6. In 2017-18 the Charles Kunje was dismissed during the match between Matabeleland Tuskers and the Mountaineers.