Angelo Mathews Out Before Facing A Ball: What Is Timed Out?

The Delhi crowd witnessed an unusual incident at the Arun Jaitley stadium on Monday during Sri Lanka versus Bangladesh match as Angelo Mathews became the first cricketer in ODI history to be dismissed, 'timed out'.

After the fall of Sadeera Samarawickrama's wicket, Mathews walked in to bat at number sixth position. He had to leave the ground without facing a ball. This is for the first time in cricket history, that a cricketer has been dismissed in this fashion.

He arrived at the pitch a little late as he had an issue with his helmet and the Bangladesh players took up the issue with the umpires who eventually announced that Mathews was timed out.

Mathews then engaged in a discussion with Shakib and the umpires, but the officials declined to retract the appeal, leaving Mathews disheartened as he had to depart from the field.

What is timed out?
Following the fall of a wicket or the retirement of a batsman, the incoming batter must, unless Time has been called, be prepared to receive the ball, or for the other batter to be ready for the next ball within 3 minutes of the dismissal or retirement. Moreover, the rules specify that the bowler does not receive credit for the wicket.

However, as per the ICC World Cup 2023 playing conditions, the time limit for the batter is reduced to just two minutes.

"After the fall of a wicket or the retirement of a batter, the incoming batter must, unless Time has been called, be ready to receive the ball or for the other batter to be ready to receive the next ball within 2 minutes of the dismissal or retirement. If this requirement is not met, the incoming batter will be out, Timed out," says the World Cup playing conditions.

As the Sri Lankan batsman had taken more than two minutes, he was given out as per the cricket laws.