On October 15, Sean Abbott of the New South Wales became the first cricketer to be injury-substituted in a Sheffield Shield game.
Sheffield Shield gets first injury sub
Abbott opened bowling against Victoria at the Junction Oval in Melbourne after New South Wales captain Jack Edwards won the toss and opted to field. He had Harry Dixon caught behind in his first spell. With Edwards striking at the other end, Victoria soon became 13-3 and then 66-5 before Peter Handscomb (85) and Mitchell Perry (66) added 130.
During the partnership, Abbott came to bowl first ball of the 43rd over. When Handscomb drove back to him, the shot hit Abbott on the right (bowling) hand, and he walked off the ground with a split webbing.
Following assessment by the medical staff, NSW appealed for a full like-for-like replacement for Abbott under the playing conditions being trialled in domestic cricket around the world. Match referee Bob Parry sanctioned fast bowler Charlie Stobo as the replacement.
Taking field after 55 overs, Stobo got Handscomb in the 60th. Victoria were bowled out for 240 as Liam Hatcher returned 5-88 and Edwards 3-44.
What are the new Playing Conditions?
In June 2026, the ICC incorporated several changes to their Playing Conditions as well as requested the boards to trial with full-time substitutions for “serious external injuries”.
Abbott’s injury qualified as worthy of having a full substitution, while Stobo was a like-for-like replacement. However, as per the same conditions, Abbott will now have to serve a mandatory 12-day “stand-down period” (in other words, he will not be able to play any cricket over this period).
Abbott should thus be eligible to play in the first T20I against India, on October 29. Of course, he needs to be match-fit.
Have there been injury subs in other countries?
In the Duleep Trophy on September 7, West Zone replaced Harvik Desai (quadriceps injury) with Saurabh Nawale in their game against Central Zone. And on October 4 in the CSA 4-Day Championship, Western Province replaced Edward Moore (left abductor injury) with Joshua van Heerden against the Lions.
Will this impact Australia’s Ashes plans?
Pat Cummins’ injury has created a spot in the Australian pace attack. Scott Boland, the number one choice, will replace him – but Boland, like Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, is ageing. They will need back-up. Since Lance Morris and Jhye Richardson are also injured, Abbott might have been under the radar for the first Test, which will begin on November 21.
