Substitute (cricket)

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A substitute in the sport of cricket is a replacement player that the umpires allow when a player has been injured or become ill, after the nomination of the players at the start of the game. The rules for substitutes appear in Law 24 of the Laws of Cricket .

Contents

Overview

A substitute can act for the injured or ill player in the field, although they may not bowl, bat or act as captain, unless otherwise agreed by the captains. A player may bat, bowl and field even if they have had a substitute for part of the game, though they need to wait for a period equal to their time off the field until they bat or bowl again. Substitutes are generally not listed in the official squad list, unless they were in the starting XI for other games in the wider squad, or were the twelfth player, as some forms of cricket have 12 players listed prior to the match, at which point one player is omitted from the match squad. However, this is not required under the laws, and the substitute can be anyone, providing the umpires approve the use of a substitute. This can lead to members of the crowd, on-site media or a team's coaching staff taking the role. One example being a New Zealand journalist who was following their tour of India in 1988, taking the field.

History

The use of substitutes is known from the 18th century. In the report of a match on Monday, 5 September 1748, the role is termed a "seeker-out"; this was in the sense that George Smith, who was carrying an injury and had been granted a substitute fielder in previous matches, was denied one in this match. [1] The practice of allowing substitutes was varied and inconsistent in the 19th century. In 1870, a match occurred between the MCC and Nottinghamshire. Substitutes were allowed early in this match, but this was condemned by the press, and by the conclusion of the match they were refused. [2]

The first-ever use of a substitute in first-class cricket occurred in The University Match between Oxford and Cambridge in 1891, when Thomas Case replaced Frederic Thesiger in the Oxford XI, after Thesiger had injured himself while fielding on the first morning of the match. [3]

Fielding substitutes

A substitute is permitted to take catches as with any other fielder, and on some occasions does. The first occasion in Test cricket was in the Test between England and Australia in 1884, [4] when Australia's captain, Billy Murdoch, took a catch from his teammate Tup Scott while playing as a substitute for England. The highest number of catches by a substitute fielder in a Test match is four, a record shared by Gursharan Singh, Younis Khan, Virender Sehwag, and Jackson Bird. [5] However, substitute fielders' catches do not count towards individual stats.

Recent changes

In recent years, there have been arguments made for cricket to allow substitutes in first-class games, as cricket forbids full substitutes for most injuries or tactical reasons. In 2019, concussion substitutes were allowed in Test matches and other international games for the first time. [6] Arguments in favour of general substitutes have been made from a perspective of improving the game, [7] coping with increasing injury rates due to the modern schedule, [8] to follow the lead of other sports in trying to manage concussion more responsibly [9] and to provide greater opportunities for players to gain experience in first-class cricket. [10] However, there is an equally strong viewpoint that the nature of the first-class contest may be diminished [11] with a summary suggesting that although medical experts would recommend introduction of substitutes the majority of players are still not in favour. [12]

Restrictions on returning player

When a player leaves the ground due to injury and is replaced by a substitute fielder, they are generally not permitted to return and immediately resume bowling (or batting if their team's innings commences while they are off the field). The injured player is required to spend a period back on the field at least equal to the time that they were absent before resuming bowling, or batting should a change of innings occur. Variations of the time periods required and the circumstances of the players return to the field apply in different forms of the game. [13]

Injured bowler

If a bowler is injured during an over and cannot complete it, another bowler must bowl the remaining deliveries. The bowler chosen to do so cannot be the bowler who bowled the previous over, and must not bowl the following over either. A substitute fielder may take the place of the injured bowler whilst they are off the field, but they may not bowl.

Tactical substitute

In 2005, the International Cricket Council announced, as part of a package of changes to the playing conditions for One Day Internationals to be trialled over a ten-month period, that tactical substitutions would be permitted. Each team was to be allowed one substitute, who had to be named before the toss was made, and could be introduced at any stage of the match. The ODI series between England and Australia in July saw the first use of these new regulations, which did not apply to other forms of cricket such as Test matches.

This change, however, was widely criticised by players, commentators, and fans. In particular, it was said to give the team that wins the toss an even greater advantage than usual. [14]

In March 2006 players and officials started to rebel against this controversial rule and a One Day International series between South Africa and Australia saw the players agree to boycott the rule. Just a few weeks later the International Cricket Council announced that the rule was being withdrawn, and it is no longer used.

In the 2005 Ashes Test series, Australian captain Ricky Ponting repeatedly complained that England were abusing the substitute system by bringing on specialist fielders in place of bowlers with poor fielding skills, which he argued was against the spirit of cricket. English bowlers were frequently substituted at the end of bowling spells and temporarily replaced with fresh fielders. The England coach Duncan Fletcher argued that these substitutions were either legitimate injuries or players "answering the call of nature" (i.e. using the toilet). The issue came to a climax in the 4th Test, when Ponting was run out by substitute Gary Pratt, causing him to angrily shout and gesticulate in the direction of the England dressing room. At the time, Pratt was on the field for bowler Simon Jones - who was nursing an ankle injury that proved to end his Test career after this match. Ponting was fined 75% of his match fee for dissent. [15]

In 2008, the International Cricket Council tightened the regulations on the use of substitutions, saying "Substitute fielders shall only be permitted in cases of injury, illness or other wholly acceptable reasons... and should not include what is commonly referred to as a 'comfort break'". [16]

Concussion substitute

In the mid-2010s there were calls for concussion substitutes who could bat or bowl to be introduced, with increased awareness of the risks of continuing to play following a concussion. [17] New Zealand introduced such a rule for their domestic limited-overs competitions, having had two concussion-related substitutions in 2016. [18] The England and Wales Cricket Board introduced concussion replacements to English domestic competitions at the start of the 2018 season. The replacements can bat and bowl in place of a player with concussion or suspected concussion; match officials have to determine that the new player is a "like for like" replacement. [19]

In July 2019, the International Cricket Council (ICC) agreed to allow the use of concussion replacements in all international cricket matches from 1 August 2019, with substitute having to be a "like-for-like replacement" and approved by the Match Referee. [20]

ICC Playing Conditions

For example: If David Warner, a pure batsman, is injured in a Test match and Australia name Mitchell Marsh, an all-rounder, as his replacement, then the match-referee has the power to restrict Marsh from bowling in the match.

The rules were implemented for saving a team from having a disadvantage if one of their players suffers a concussion and is out from the match. The rules also restrict a player from taking unnecessary risks by putting their health on the line in a bid to help their team in a match.

Every circumstance is going to be different depending on when the player is requested to be replaced. If a bowler's injured and they've only got a batting innings left then the decision might be different to if the same player was injured and there was a bowling innings left. It's very much around the circumstances around the game and the referees will be given guidelines as will the teams how to interpret those, But it's very much around what is the likely role of the injured player for rest of the match and who is most like-for-like with the role that player will play. The match referee could put conditions on a player being involved. So, if there's an allrounder replacing a batter then he might put a condition that player is unavailable to bowl during the match. The referee has some flexibility to best accommodate a like-for-like replacement.

—Geoff Allardice, ICC General Manager explained before 2019 Ashes series. [21]

First usage

The first use of such a substitute was during the Second Test at Lord's in the 2019 Ashes series between England and Australia, when Steve Smith was hit on the neck by a bouncer by Jofra Archer in the first innings. He was later diagnosed as having suffered concussion and was ruled out of the remainder of the Test. Marnus Labuschagne was named as the official replacement for Smith and came to bat on the final day of the Test. [22]

On November 1, 2019, the West Indies player Shabika Gajnabi became the first concussion substitute in women's cricket when she replaced Chinelle Henry, who was concussed after hitting the advertising boards while fielding in an ODI game against India. [23]

COVID-19 substitute

In June 2020, the ICC approved a rule [24] providing that if a player was found COVID-19 positive in the middle of a series they would be quarantined immediately, not allowed to take part in the remainder of the series, and would be replaced by a "like for like" substitute. [25]

In October 2020, in the opening round of the 2020–21 Plunket Shield season, Ben Lister became the first COVID-19 replacement in a cricket match. [26] Lister replaced Mark Chapman, who reported feeling unwell, in line with the updated International Cricket Council (ICC) playing conditions for a substitute due to COVID-19. [27]

In April 2022, in the second Test match between South Africa and Bangladesh, Glenton Stuurman and Khaya Zondo replaced Sarel Erwee and Wiaan Mulder as COVID-19 substitutes at the start of day 4 for South Africa. [28] As a result, Khaya Zondo made his Test debut. [29]

In June 2022, Oshada Fernando replaced Angelo Mathews as a COVID-19 substitute for Sri Lanka during the second innings of the first test against Australia. [30] In the second Test of the series, Fernando again replaced Pathum Nissanka as a COVID-19 substitute for Sri Lanka. [31]

Related Research Articles

In cricket, an umpire is a person who has the authority to make decisions about events on the cricket field according to the Laws of Cricket. Besides making decisions about legality of delivery, appeals for wickets and general conduct of the Game in a legal manner, the umpire also keeps a record of the deliveries and announces the completion of an over.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">One Day International</span> Form of limited overs cricket, 50 overs format

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In the sport of cricket, a bouncer is a type of short-pitched delivery, usually bowled by a fast bowler, which bounces once and then reaches the batter at head-height.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dismissal (cricket)</span> Cricket terminology

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twenty20</span> Form of limited overs cricket, 20-over format

Twenty20 (T20) is a shortened game format of cricket. At the professional level, it was introduced by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in 2003 for the inter-county competition. In a Twenty20 game, the two teams have a single innings each, which is restricted to a maximum of twenty overs. Together with first-class and List A cricket, Twenty20 is one of the three current forms of cricket recognised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as being at the highest international or domestic level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Captain (cricket)</span> Member of a cricket team

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toss (cricket)</span> Coin flip to determine which team bats first

In cricket, the toss is the flipping of a coin to determine which captain will have the right to choose whether their team will bat or field at the start of the match.

The ICC Super Series 2005 was a cricket series held in Australia during October 2005, organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC). It was played between Australia and a World XI team of players selected from other countries. The series consisted of three One Day Internationals and one Test match. Australia won all four matches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cricket</span> Bat-and-ball game

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marnus Labuschagne</span> Australian cricketer

Marnus Labuschagne is an Australian professional international cricketer who plays domestically for Queensland, Glamorgan in county cricket and for Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League. Labuschagne has been ranked as high as no.1 in the ICC Test batting rankings, and is considered as one of the best Test batsmen in the world. Labuschagne was a member of the Australian team that won the 2023 ICC World Test Championship final and the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup.

The South African cricket team toured Australia in November 2016 to play three Test matches. South Africa won the series 2–1, with victories in Perth and Hobart.

The Sri Lanka cricket team toured Zimbabwe in January 2020 to play two Test matches. It was the first tour of Zimbabwe since the International Cricket Council (ICC) lifted its suspension on Zimbabwe Cricket, due to government interference, in October 2019. Zimbabwe last played Test cricket in November 2018, in a two-match series against Bangladesh. The two teams last played a Test match against each other in July 2017, with Sri Lanka winning by four wickets. Zimbabwe have never beaten Sri Lanka in a Test match. Zimbabwe last played a home Test match in November 2017, against the West Indies.

The Sri Lanka cricket team toured Bangladesh in May 2022 to play two Test matches. The Test series formed part of the 2021–2023 ICC World Test Championship. The fixtures for the tour were confirmed in March 2022. In June 2020, the International Cricket Council (ICC) relaxed its rules on using neutral match officials, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In April 2022, the ICC confirmed that neutral umpires would return to Test match cricket, with Richard Kettleborough from England and Joel Wilson of the West Indies standing in the first and second Tests respectively.

The Bangladesh cricket team toured South Africa in March and April 2022 to play two Tests and three One Day International (ODI) matches. The Test series formed part of the 2021–2023 ICC World Test Championship, and the ODI series formed part of the inaugural 2020–2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Super League. On 9 February 2022, Cricket South Africa confirmed the schedule and venues for the series.

The West Indian cricket team toured Australia from October to December 2022 to play two Test matches and two Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). The T20Is formed part of both teams' preparations for the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, while the Test matches formed part of the 2021–2023 ICC World Test Championship. In May 2022, Cricket Australia confirmed the fixtures for the tour.

The New Zealand cricket team toured England in June 2022 to play three Test matches, with the matches forming part of the 2021–2023 ICC World Test Championship. England also played three One Day International (ODI) matches against the Netherlands in Amstelveen between the second and third Tests.

The Australian cricket team toured Sri Lanka in June and July 2022 to play two Tests, five One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 International (T20Is) matches. The Test series formed part of the 2021–2023 ICC World Test Championship. Both cricket boards confirmed the fixtures for the tour in March 2022.

The Sri Lanka cricket team toured Bangladesh in March and April 2024 to play two Test, three One Day International (ODI) and three Twenty20 International (T20I) matches. The Test series formed part of the 2023–2025 ICC World Test Championship. The fixtures for the tour were confirmed in February 2024.

References

  1. ↑ Ashley-Cooper, At the Sign of the Wicket, 12 April 1900, p. 52.
  2. ↑ Mukherjee, Abhishek (25 May 2016). "Death of George Summers: When cricket at Lord's claimed a life". Cricket Country. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  3. ↑ Dhole, Pradip (14 May 2017). "Thomas Bennett Case: Oxford brewer who was the first cricket Supersub". Cricket Country. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  4. ↑ "Scorecard Test No. 15". Cricinfo.com.
  5. ↑ "Most catches by a substitute in a match". ESPN Cricinfo . Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  6. ↑ "FAQs: The concussion sub, and why the rule is important". Espncricinfo.com.
  7. ↑ "The case for substitutes". Espncricinfo.com.
  8. ↑ "Injury data and arguments to support a rule change to allow substitutes in Test and first class cricket" (PDF). Johnorchard.com. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  9. ↑ "Concussion, risk assessment, and practical steps to reform: Learning from the Hugo Lloris example". Blogs.bmj.com. 21 November 2013.
  10. ↑ "Shipperd wants 12-a-side in Sheffield Shield". ESPNcricinfo.com. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  11. ↑ "There's no substitute for heroics now lost from other codes". The Sydney Morning Herald . 24 November 2012.
  12. ↑ "To sub, or not to sub?". Espncricinfo.com.
  13. ↑ "About ICC - Rules and Regulations". Archived from the original on 26 December 2008. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
  14. ↑ "Cricket bosses explain sub trial". BBC Sport. 11 December 2005.
  15. ↑ "Ponting slams England sub policy". BBC Sport. 29 August 2005.
  16. ↑ "Ponting set to take comfort from ICC new fielding rules". The Sydney Morning Herald . 4 July 2008.
  17. ↑ "Australia team doctor asks ICC to consider concussion substitutes". Cricinfo. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  18. ↑ "New Zealand to introduce concussion substitutes". Cricinfo. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  19. ↑ "Concussion in cricket: Replacements added to laws for 2018 county season". BBC Sport. 21 March 2018.
  20. ↑ "ICC board and full council concludes in London". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  21. ↑ "What is 'concussion substitute' rule? Here's everything on ICC's new set of guidelines". Times Now. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  22. ↑ "Steven Smith withdrawn from Lord's Test due to concussion". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
  23. ↑ "Chinelle Henry ruled out of India ODIs with concussion". Cricbuzz.com. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  24. ↑ "New Zealand cricketer Ben Lister becomes first COVID-19 substitut". Times Now News. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  25. ↑ "COVID-19 substitutes in cricket: What is it, what are the challenges? Everything we know so far". Times Now News. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  26. ↑ "Auckland seamer Ben Lister becomes first Covid-19 replacement". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  27. ↑ "Ben Lister becomes first 'COVID replacement' in cricket". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  28. ↑ "BREAKING: Drama as 2 Proteas players test positive for Covid-19 mid-Test". The South African. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  29. ↑ "Mulder, Erwee test positive for Covid-19 as Khaya Zondo earns Proteas Test debut". News24. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  30. ↑ "Angelo Mathews out of Galle Test due to Covid-19". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
  31. ↑ "Pathum Nissanka out of second test with Covid". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 July 2022.

Bibliography

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