The ICC has introduced several changes to their Playing Conditions. These include two changes to the existing concussion substitute rule.
The ICC have made two significant changes to their concussion protocols. “Teams will now be required to nominate their designated concussion replacements for the match,” reads the first change. This will curb “the advantage previously held by home teams, who have typically been able to choose from a larger pool of potential replacements”.
Earlier this year in a T20I at Pune, Jamie Overton hit Shivam Dube on the helmet with the penultimate ball of the Indian innings. Dube stayed on for the last ball (he was run out for 53 while attempting a second run). However, he later concussed, and India had to substitute him.
India used Harshit Rana as a like-for-like concussion substitute for Dube. Since both were, at least on paper, seam-bowling all-rounders, India did not violate any rule per se. However, the substitution tilted the balance of the game in India’s favour: done with his stronger suit (batting), Dube had made way for the bowling all-rounder Rana.
As things turned out, Rana removed Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, and Overton to finish with 3-33 in four overs, helping India win by 15 runs. England captain Jos Buttler was not impressed. Neither was Kevin Pietersen on air. Mark Butcher called the decision “wildly wrong”.
Back in 2020/21, India had caused a similar stir by replacing Ravindra Jadeja with Yuzvendra Chahal between the innings in the Canberra T20I. Jadeja had played his part with a 23-ball 44 not out before Chahal returned 3-25.
Since teams now have to nominate designated concussion replacements, the concussion substitute now has to be specific for everyone.
The ICC Medical Advisory Committee has recommended another change “to support players’ safety and well-being”. The ICC has accepted this change. A cricketer diagnosed with a concussion during a match must “observe a minimum stand-down period of a minimum of seven days before returning to play.”
