In the first T20 match being played against Australia in Canberra, Yuzvendra Chahal replaced Ravindra Jadeja as the ‘Concussion Substitute’ player. Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc’s bounced hit Saurashtra all-rounder in the head of after which Chahal was fielded as a ‘concession Substitute.
Its worth mentioning that Jadeja was hit by Stark’s ball in the last over of first innings. After the end of the innings, he was scrutinized by the BCCI medical team for checkup. Jadeja scored an unbeaten 44 off just 23 balls which included 5 fours and a six. Due to this thunderous innings by Jadeja, India set a target of 162 runs for Australia.
Australian head coach Justin Langer was furious when he saw Yuzvendra Chahal coming to bowl in the 8th over of the match. He striked quick as he dismissed a dangerous looking Aaron Finch to set it up nicely for India. He further dismissed a dangerous Steve Smith and Matthew Wade and returned with a figure of 3/25 to become the first concussion substitute to get rewarded with man of the match title. India won the match by 11 runs to take a lead of 1-0 in the three match T20 series.
What is the rule of Concussion Substitute
-If a player is injured, another player will be able to replace him. He can also bat, bowl or don the wicket keeping gloves.
-It is the decision of the match referee to field the concussion substitute.
-If the batsman is injured, another batsman will replace him or if a bowler is injured, a bowler will only replace him.
-Both teams will have the right to pick one concussion each.
-If the medical staff or doctor feels that the player’s head injury is serious, then he or she will have to tell the match referee, after which a substitute batsman will be allowed.
-The injured player who has been substituted on the field, will not be allowed to return to the field until the doctor gives the green signal.
-If a player has a head injury and has gone off the field, then he cannot take the field on the same day.
When was this rule discussed for the first time?
Discussions about this rule began after the death of former Australia opener Philippe Hughes. The southpaw suffered a bouncer to the head in a 2014 Sheffield Shield tournament match. He was then taken to the hospital, but could not be saved. He was hit by a bouncer by Sean Abbott, who also plied his trade in the first T20 against India on Thursday.
This rule was first used in Australia
Cricket Australia first used the CONCUSSION SUBSTITUTE rule in the domestic ODI (both men and women), Big Bash and Women’s Big Bash league in the 2016–17 season. Due to non-acceptance of this rule from the ICC, the Australian board could not use it in Sheffield Shield and other first class tournaments. The England Cricket Board implemented it in the county last season.
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.
