Cricket fred

[Puja]

Isnt it time cricket allowed proper injury substitutions?

Pant shouldnt have had to bat in one test and the sight of Woakes with his arm in a sling was utterly ridiculous. Is there any other sport where this kind of carry on would be allowed?

Seems to me if a player sustains a match ending injury they should be able to be replaced by a similar player.

I would agree in theory, but the problem is that there is the significant risk of Bloodgate-style fuckery with Test cricket, given the specialisations and the shifting state of the game and pitch over 5 days.

"Oh no, our number 11 Shoaib Bashir has gone down with an injury shortly before our fourth innings run chase! We shall have to bring on our reserve spin bowler, Jacob Bethell*, to replace him! WHAT. A. SHAME."

"This pitch is much more spin-friendly than we thought and our fast bowlers look knackered. OH NO, MARK WOOD HAS PULLED A HAMSTRING. WHAT A SHAME. CALL FOR REHAN AHMED AND NOTE OUR SADNESS AT HAVING TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTION."

I don't know exactly how it can be solved, but I have to say the current begger's muddle isn't working - it doesn't make sense that a wicketkeeper can be replaced for injury in the field (especially given Test sides usually field a hybrid batsman/keeper and bringing on a reserve may mean getting a higher quality of specialist keeper), but not a bowler. And, as you said, having someone who can barely walk come out to bat might be great drama, but it's not good player welfare, especially since they got rid of the option to have a runner (which I still don't understand!).

You could maybe do it by setting a rule that you are allowed one irreversible substitution, which can be made at any point for an injury assessed by an independent doctor. That sub has to come from a pre-named bench of two - one batsman, one bowler - the batsman cannot bowl, if you want to replace a wicketkeeper it has to be either someone on the pitch or you have a batsman/keeper on the bench, and the bowler cannot have a first class batting average above, idunno, 20? You can do sub fielders as normal, but they aren't allowed to field within the same circle as would be for a one-day game.

Probably a dozen things I've missed with that, but it's the only way I can see subs working and not ending up being a tactical sub by any other name.

Puja


*The 2024!Bethell where he was in decent batting nick