Mankad in the rules says Clarke

Australia captain Michael Clarke has weighed in on the Mankad controversy that has the cricket world once again debating as to whether the dismissal is in the spirit of the game.

The uproar comes after Sri Lanka spin-bowler Sachithra Senanayake Mankaded England's Jos Buttler in a one-day international at Edgbaston overnight.

Speaking at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane, Clarke acknowledged the frowned-upon practice is part of the sport.

"At the end of the day I think as long as the player's warned it's obviously in the rules so you can make whatever decision you want," said Clarke.

"Will an Australian player do it? I think I'd be silly to stand here and say, 'No, it will never happen under my captaincy'.

"If something like that does happen under my captaincy I look forward to dealing with it at the time.

"At the end of the day it's in the rules."

According to former Sri Lanka skipper and current player Mahela Jayawardene, Senanayake was well in his rights to perform the Mankad.

"It's fair enough I think," Jaywardene said.

"We've always tried to play in the right spirit but if the other teams are not going by the right spirit, not going by the law which is written, we have to take the law into our own hands."

Jayawardene's comments followed Sri Lanka's six-wicket win over Alastair Cook's men at Edgbaston, but his remarks are a lot different from those he made two years ago when the situation was reversed.

In 2012, India's Ravi Ashwin knocked off the bails and appealed when Jayawarende's team-mate Lahiru Thirimanne was backing up out of his ground.

Acting captain Virender Sehwag and Ashwin approached on-field umpires Paul Reiffel and Billy Bowden, with Sehwag refusing to withdraw his appeal when asked by the match officials.

Only Sachin Tendulkar's intervention calmed the situation, finally resulting in Thirimanne staying at the crease, but Jayawardene didn't hold back when asked whether the Mankad was in the spirit of the game.

"I wouldn't have got the bails off in the first place ... I like to try and keep it nice and clean," Jayawardene said.

"I would just give him a warning and make sure he stays in the crease."

Under Law 42.15 of the Marlyborne Cricket Club Laws of Cricket the bowler is permitted, before entering his delivery stride, to attempt to run out the non-striker. Whether the attempt is successful or not, the ball shall not count as one of the over.

If the bowler fails in an attempt to run out the non-striker, the umpire shall call and signal dead ball as soon as possible.