After the injury of Rishabh Pant at the Old Trafford, the ICC should allow the teams to make replacements for the players who suffer serious injuries
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly close to allowing like-for-like replacements for external injuries. The report comes after Rishabh Pant suffered a fractured toe on Day 1 of IND vs ENG 4th Test at Old Trafford. While the southpaw did come out to bat despite being in pain on Day 2, the ICC rules at present state that substitute players are currently not allowed to bat or bowl and cam only field, given the umpire approves.
Pant’s injury to force ICC to implement new rule?
As per Times of India, a source claimed that there is a chance for teams to bring in replacements for serious external injuries. The report stated that the matter was already being discussed by the ICC and that a ratification could be passed in the next cricket committee meeting.
“There is a chance that teams will get to bring in a replacement for serious external injuries. The matter is already under deliberation. A ratification is expected in the next ICC cricket committee meeting,” an ICC source said.
Pant was hit on his left toe on Day 1 while attempting a reverse sweep off Chris Woakes. He was seen hobbling and writhing in pain and was subsequently carried off the field. While the BCCI confirmed that Dhruv Jurel will keep wickets, Pant returned to bat on Day 2 and scored a gritty fifty, earning a standing ovation at Old Trafford.
While Pant did come out and bat in the 1st innings since it was a do or die situation for India, it might not be the case in the 2nd innings. A change in the ICC rule could allow teams to replace players in the match who have sustained serious injuries while also ensuring that the substitute can bat or bowl.
In the IND vs ENG 3rd Test at Lord’s, Pant was hit on his finger while attempting to save a delivery from going to the boundary off Bumrah. Similarly, he was replaced by Jurel behind the stumps, but the latter couldn’t bat in the game due to the ICC rules.
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Informative: A standardization would need medical tests, time windows, and clear rules about re-entry. Without that, players could return too soon.
Informative: This is a developing story; we need official statements for clarity. Until then take everything with a grain of salt.
Positive: If done properly this could reduce stoppages. It could help younger players who’ve had injuries but still want to play, good for the sport.
Sarcastic: Oh yes, nothing screams fairness like this policy where a team can swap a player for an ‘external injury’ on a whim. Perfect for every match day strategy, sure.
Argumentative: If you ask me this is a slippery slope. Where does it stop? Next will be external injuries replaced by policy and benching for petty jealousy. We must weigh risk of exploitation and fairness.
Comical: ICC about to approve replacements for external injuries, next up ‘weather breaks’ replacement for rain delays, it’s getting ridiculous.
Negative: This could overshadow the actual skill and performance. Players replaced simply because of injuries overshadow the actual performance on field; there needs to be a limit.
Negative: I doubt this gonna work. Replacing players for external injuries will mess team strategies and damage the game tension. Also it might be misused to hide serious injuries, feels like gimmick not a real fix.
Comical: this policy sounds like a meme but mayhaps it could work. Imagine the coach giving the bench call for ‘external injury substitute’ like it’s a soda break. Next we will sub players by the weather too.
Ironic: Sure, let’s replace injuries with ‘external injury cards’ and watch referees handing them out like yellow cards.
Positive: Great move by ICC, i like this idea of replacements for external injuries, could save a lot of delays and keep the fans engaged, thumbs up for speed and fairness.
Informative: I wonder if this policy will apply to all formats or only Tests. Also there might be ramifications for team selection strategies across tournaments.
Ironic: Oh great, replacements for external injuries, because apparently on the field the real problem is player availability not schedule. Brilliant, maybe they’ll replace fans with AI to boost attendance.
Informative: This looks like policy update worth watching, if its true it could speed up matches and keep play flowing. its important to have a transparent protocol so coaches cant exploite it.
Informative: Need detail on procedure, who decides, how many replacements, and what counts as external vs internal injury. ICC must publish guidelines, else confusion remains.