The new rule allows teams to replace an injured player with a substitute from outside the playing XI until stumps on day two of a Sheffield Shield match. The injury, which could occur on or off the field, can be sustained at any time after the toss until the end of the second day.<\/p>\n
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There are also no restrictions on the type of injury, whether it be internal or external, with illness also included. Only one injury substitute will be permitted per match.<\/p>\n
The injury player\u2019s replacement must be a like-for-like; for example, a wounded spinner must be replaced by another spinner. The match referee, who will determine the legitimacy of an injury substitution, can place restrictions on a replacement player\u2019s involvement, such as prohibiting a batter from bowling in the match.<\/p>\n
An injured player that is substituted out of a Sheffield Shield match will also be required to serve a mandatory 12-day stand down period from all national or domestic competitions commencing from day two of the match.<\/p>\n
To ensure the rule is not manipulated, the opposition team will be permitted to make an AFL-style tactical substitution in response to an injury replacement. Just as with injury substitutions, tactical swaps must be like-for-like and occur before stumps on day two.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, concussion substitutes remain unlimited and can be made at any stage in the match pending approval from the match referee.<\/p>\n
\u201cCricket Australia management will be collecting information on the success or otherwise of the trial to assess the options post that round,\u201d Cricket Australia head of operations Peter Roach said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope to learn much about the trial across the first five rounds that we can use in both our competition going forward and also pass up to the ICC for consideration for introduction at Test level.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nathan McAndrew of the Redbacks.(Photo by Sarah Reed\/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, the BCCI trialled a similar rule in its domestic red-ball competition, but the substitutions were limited to external injuries sustained on the field.<\/p>\n
Debate on injury replacements in Test cricket reignited during the recent Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, when Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant was forced to bat with a fractured during the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford. The following week, England was left a bowler short after all-rounder Chris Woakes dislocated his shoulder while fielding on day one of the series finale at The Oval.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are the only team sport that does this,\u201d former England captain Michael Vaughan wrote in The Telegraph at the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we are doing at the moment is intentionally depleting a contest by making one of the teams effectively play with ten men for four days of the match, on the back of bad luck.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have felt for many years that Test cricket should introduce substitutes for injuries that are clear and obvious, like we have seen with Rishabh Pant in the fourth Test at Old Trafford.\u201d<\/p>\n