Hampshire coach Russell Domingo has questioned the County Championship’s new substitution rules after Yorkshire replaced two players due to illness in the same match at Headingley.
We need to tighten up in terms of what you can be replaced for: Hampshire coach Russell Domingo after County Championship loss to Yorkshire
Yorkshire brought in Logan van Beek and Ben Cliff as substitutes for Jhye Richardson and Jack White, both ruled out with food poisoning within 24 hours. The regulations, introduced by the ECB, allow like-for-like replacements in cases of injury, illness or significant personal reasons.
Speaking after the game that Hampshire won by 214 runs, Domingo told Daily Mail Sport: "If there’s an injury - a hamstring’s gone, a finger’s broken, or there’s a concussion, I can understand it. But I could give my guys a laxative if they're bowling badly in the first innings and then say they're feeling sick in the second innings and take them out of the game.
Match 18, Yorkshire vs Hampshire
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“When it comes to muscular injuries or physical cuts, of course, I can understand. I'm not sure about this kind of thing. It’s odd. I could go out tonight and get hammered, drunk, rock up tomorrow and say: ‘I’ve got a headache, I am hungover. Replace me.’ You’re bringing in a bowler fresh for the next innings. Maybe we need to tighten up in terms of what can you be replaced for.”
Yorkshire coach Anthony McGrath defended the decision, saying, “I don't think any professional player I’ve ever played with or coached wants to miss a game. Both Jhye and Jack hung around being sick in the back, saying: ‘Just give me an hour, give me an hour.’
“We wouldn't replace a player unless we really needed to. Jhye Richardson's a Test bowler. Why would we not want him? Jack White was our best bowler last year. So, if we are replacing him, there's a real reason for it.”
The rule has already been used seven times across the opening two rounds of the Championship, a higher frequency than anticipated. Under current guidelines, players withdrawn due to injury or illness are subject to an eight-day stand-down period, although scheduling gaps can affect its application. The ECB has indicated the policy will be reviewed if required during the season.
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