THE son of Test great Merv Hughes has become embroiled in a Mankad controversy on the opening day of Premier Cricket.

Tim Hughes, playing for Footscray’s thirds against Prahran, whipped off the bails to dismiss Nick Stone and claim a five-run victory for his team.

The incident happened on the first ball of the last over of the match at Tony Dodemaide Oval on Saturday.

With nine wickets down and Sam Hill on strike, Prahran needed five off the final six balls.

Merv Hughes, who is a committee member and bowling coach at Footscray, was watching on.

While the act was within the rules, the Mankad has long been an issue of debate among cricket followers, with some arguing it is against the spirit of the game and others accusing offending batsmen of trying to gain an unfair advantage by leaving the crease early.

As part of the Marylebone Cricket Club’s new guidelines, which have been adopted by Cricket Australia, bowlers at all levels can now run-out the non-striker up to the time at which they “would be expected to deliver the ball”.

The changes are detailed under law 41.16, titled “non striker leaving his/her ground early”, which puts the onus on the batter.

Previously, bowlers were allowed to run out the non-striker only before entering their delivery stride.

While Tim Hughes did not break any rules, Footscray First XI skipper Dylan Kight acknowledged the controversy surrounding the incident.

“It’s controversial, obviously, but it’s one of those things with all the new MCC laws they’ve brought in, which we’ve had a massive run-down on,” Kight said.

“That is one of the ones they’ve brought in where to the new law you don’t have to give the batsman a warning anymore as such.

“The worst thing about the whole situation is the umpire gave it out, but then the umpire had to turn and ask (Footscray’s) captain (Stuart Wilson) whether he wanted to stick with the appeal or withdrawal the appeal.

“As far as the laws go, it’s just a grey area, so they’ve put the heat on the captain. In the split-second he decided to stick with the appeal.”

Kight said Tim Hughes had completed his delivery stride before removing the bails.

“He did a run through and pulled up short of bowling,” he explained.

“That was a dead ball and then the next ball...after his stride he (Hughes) knocked them off.

“Not the way you want to win and there wasn’t any celebrations or anything. It’s a tough one — I didn’t know what to really make of it myself.”

Asked what Merv Hughes, who took 212 wickets from 53 Tests in a decorated career, thought of the incident, Kight said with a laugh: “It’s no surprise, but Merv was all for it.”

Prahran coach Barry Neivandt ruled out the possibility of a protest over the result.

“It’s in the rules and we’re well aware of that with all the ICC changes,” he said.

“There’s a lot of ways you can take it.

“I don’t like the idea, but it’s within the rules so what do you do?

“If it’s in the laws of cricket, then they’re actually saying it is in the spirit of the game.

“If we’re going to worry about that, we’re not worrying about the right things.”