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Trials For 'Serious' Injury Replacement In Domestic Test Cricket To Start From October

Soumyajit Dutta

When Jasprit Bumrah was injured [Source: @kayakioomu/X.com]When Jasprit Bumrah was injured [Source: @kayakioomu/X.com]

In a recent development, and a conclusive move from ICC, replacements will now be trialled in domestic first-class cricket for players who suffer a "serious injury" during a game. Notably, full substitutions are allowed only for concussions, while for other injuries, a substitute can only field or keep.

Even then, the replacement must be a “like-for-like” player and not for minor issues like hamstring pulls or niggles. The 'like-for-like' can be called in during any period of time in the match including the warm-up period.

Replacement Trials To Be Effective From October

As per a report from BBC, the "six-month trial by full members of the International Cricket Council (ICC) will start in October". In Test cricket, the ICC rules say that teams cannot use a full substitute for an injured player. 

Essentially, if someone gets hurt, a substitute who comes in place of the injured player can only field, but they are not allowed to bowl or captain the team. They can only keep wickets if the umpires agree.

The only exception is for concussions, if a player suffers a head injury, a full replacement is allowed. For instance, in a 2022 Test at Lord’s, England’s Jack Leach got a concussion while fielding, and Matt Parkinson replaced him as a concussion substitute. Though they bowl differently, officials approved it as a “like-for-like” swap, and Parkinson even took a wicket.

Nevertheless, the trial for 'serious injury' came into focus recently when Zimbabwe fast bowler Richard Ngarava had a back injury during a Test against England. He left the field and came back later but couldn’t bowl because he had spent too much time off the field. He was still in pain and had to leave again.