Spin legend Shane Warne led criticism of India's Ravichandran Ashwin on Tuesday after a controversial run-out which put cricket's unloved 'Mankad' dismissal in the spotlight.
AFP/ Money Sharma
Warne was among a number of leading figures to fault the Punjab captain who, coming into bowl in the Indian T20 League, checked his run as Rajasthan batsman Jos Buttler left his crease, and whipped off his bails.
The rarely used dismissal is within the laws of the game but critics say it is unsportsmanlike and not in the spirit of the deeply traditional sport.
Warne, a member of the MCC World Cricket Committee, called for India's cricket board the BCCI to take action against Ashwin, who was unrepentant about the incident after Punjab's 14-run win.
"As captain of your side you set the standard... Why do such a disgraceful and low act like that tonight?" tweeted the Australian. "You must live with yourself and FYI -- it's too late to say sorry Mr Ashwin. You will be remembered for that low act."
England limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan tweeted, "I can't believe what I'm seeing!!" as comments about the incident flooded social media.
"Terrible example to set for young kids coming through. In time I think Ashwin will regret that," posted Morgan, adding that he was "so disappointed in (Ashwin) as a captain and as a person".
Buttler, who had scored 69 off 43 deliveries in Jaipur, exchanged heated words with the Indian spinner before trudging off dejectedly. "No real argument to that," Ashwin told reporters later. "I didn't even load and he left the crease. It's always been my take on it, because it's my half of the crease."
It is not the first 'Mankad' for England's Buttler, who was stumped at the non-striker's end by Sri Lanka's Sachithra Senanayake in a one-day match in 2014.
The dismissal is named after Indian all-rounder Vinoo Mankad, who twice ran out Bill Brown at the bowler's end during India's tour of Australia in 1947.
Replays of Monday's game suggested Buttler was still in his crease at the moment Ashwin would have been expected to release the ball, and therefore should not have been given out.
Fraser Stewart, laws manager for the MCC which governs the rules of cricket, said it would take super-imposed footage of earlier deliveries to pinpoint when Ashwin would normally have released the ball.
"Irrespective of what Ashwin did, it was the umpire's decision," tweeted Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle -- who was accused of being bias by Warne.
The Australian tweeted: "If (England's) Ben Stokes did what Ashwin did to (India captain Virat Kohli) it would be ok?"
In a series of rant over social media, Warne contined his bluster and asked Bhogle to stop backing 'your own'.
In a reply to a Twitter user, Bhogle had said, "Nothing in the laws though about warning. Just as there is nothing in the laws about a wicket keeper warning a batsman for being out of the crease and not stumping him.”
And the former Australian bowler was left baffled and responded, “Harsha you are missing the point completely & I’m disappointed in you as you always push the spirit of the game – now you condone this behaviour? Ashwin’s actions were simply disgraceful, and I hope the BCCI doesn’t condone this sort of behaviour in the IPL!”
He continued by tweeting, “Harsha, if that had of been an international player you would have nailed him! Please do not be bias & stick up for your own. Any player in the game that does that to anyone is an embarrassment to the game & as captain it’s even more disgraceful!”
