It really has been depressing and disappointing reading the Indian media over the last few days. The lack of respect shown to an Indian legend and referring the run-out by a bowler as ‘Mankad’ is indeed very sad.
IPL SCHEDULE | IPL POINTS TABLEJust because over 70 years back a lazy foreign journalist called a run-out of Bill Brown -- the Australian non-striker -- for backing up out of his crease by
Vinoo Mankad as being ‘Mankaded’, the term has stuck.
That Brown had been warned more than once by Mankad and still continued to transgress was overlooked; and even after Sir Don Bradman found nothing wrong in Mankad’s action, the media called it 'Mankaded'.
Does a batsman who stays at the crease despite knowing he has nicked the ball ever referred to as doing a WG after a legendary batsman of yore? Is a fielder who claims a catch when the ball has bounced before settling in his palms ever called doing a Waugh after the former skipper ‘caught’ Brian Lara in the West Indies? Then why is a run-out of the non-striker backing out of his crease called Mankad? If that is a sharp practice, what are the above mentioned acts? Sporting? In the spirit of the game? Hopefully at least the Indian media will henceforth refer it as 'Browned' after the Australian who was the one at fault or simply refer to it as ‘run-out by the bowler’ instead of tarnishing a legend’s name.
Nothing is going to be simple for the four
IPL teams in action on Sunday as they are all in a winning rhythm and the games could go the distance. Chennai Super Kings will want to show they have recovered after the loss to Mumbai Indians even as the latter know they are up against a team, Sunrisers Hyderabad, who are on an unbelievable roll.
The two Hyderabad openers, David Warner and Jonny Bairstow, are taking the game away from the opposition in the powerplay itself. Getting them early is the key, for the batsmen after them haven’t had much of an outing and could succumb to the pressure.
Chennai are struggling at the top order and though MSD steadies and takes them home, he can’t always do that as was seen at the Wankhede Stadium.