Shoaib Bashir returned to England's attack in the final day of their third Test against India today (July 14), and was allowed to bowl straightaway despite having spent all of the fourth innings off the field. Here's why.
Bashir sustained an injury to his hand while bowling on the third day of the Lord's Test. He subsequently left the field and did not return for the rest of the innings. He also did not take the field for the start of India's second innings, only returning after Lunch on day five.
When he did return, however, Bashir bowled straightaway, as England hunted the final two wickets they needed to secure a tight win. Seemingly, this contradicts the rules around players bowling having spent significant periods of time off the field.
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What are the rules about players being allowed to bowl after going off the field?
Under article 24.2.3.1 of the ICC playing conditions for men's Test cricket, which concern a player being absent from the field for longer than eight minutes (as Bashir was), "The player shall not be permitted to bowl in the match until he has either been able to field, or his team has subsequently been batting, for the total length of playing time for which the player was absent... A player's penalty time shall be limited to a maximum of 120 minutes."
On first glance this should apply to Bashir, given that he spent longer than eight minutes off the field. Thus, it would expected for him to have to serve 120 minutes on the field without bowling before coming into the attack.
However, there are three exemptions to this rule under article 24.3, of which the first applies to Bashir's situation. Under the exemption, "a nominated player's absence will not incur penalty time if, (24.3.1) he has suffered an external blow during the match and, as a result, has justifiably left the field or is unable to take the field".
This exemption applies to Bashir because he left the field after he was hit on his hand while bowling in the first innings. Ravindra Jadeja hit a drive back towards Bashir on day three, which hit him on his left hand. At the time, Bashir immediately signalled to the dressing room that he was injured and Joe Root completed the rest of his over.
Thus, Bashir was able to bowl without having to serve penalty time for being off the field.
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