What is mankading?

Answer 1

Indian cricketer Vinoo Mankad, who had a 27-year first-class career, caused controversy during the 1947-48 season, when touring Australia with India, he ran out Bill Brown in the second Test of the tour. He broke the wicket at the non-striker's end during his run-up while the batsman at that end of the ground was out of his crease.

In spite of having done exactly the same thing earlier in the tour, it was this second occurence that angered the press. From here on, this type of dismissal has been known as "Mankading".

One notable supporter of Mankad's action was Don Bradman, who, in his autobiography, stated:

"For the life of me, I can't understand why [the press] questioned his sportsmanship. The laws of cricket make it quite clear that the nonstriker must keep within his ground until the ball has been delivered. If not, why is the provision there which enables the bowler to run him out? By backing up too far or too early, the nonstriker is very obviously gaining an unfair advantage."