The ECB says the aim of their year-long trial is to be as “inclusive and permissive” as possible, and to “optimise the quality of cricket, and get 11 playing 11 as much as we can”.
“We are allowing replacement players for all injuries, illness, and significant life events,” said Fordham. “They could be expected or unexpected. Childbirth would be an expected life event. Most seasons we get three or four questions about a player being replaced to witness the birth of a child, and the answer has been no. Now the answer will be yes.
“There are also unexpected life events. There was the incident around Blair Tickner, whose wife was taken ill during the game. It was a tough message to say ‘sorry, you can’t have a replacement player, you have to play with 10’. If, heaven forbid, something was to happen again we would say ‘yes, you could have a replacement player’.”
“Those are two clear-cut examples, there will be others that will be slightly greyer. We are having a first step in the water with this and will live and learn as we go. If we need [to], we will refine it.”