Concussion substitutes may be in place as soon as The Ashes begins
The cricket chiefs are finalising over the idea of introducing concussion substitutes for the World Test Championship beginning with the Ashes series. The debate around concussion substitutes began following the death of Phillip Hughes after he was struck by a bouncer in a List-A match in 2014.
According to an ESPNcricinfo report, the issue is on the agenda at the International Cricket Council (ICC) annual conference taking place in London this week. With the World Cup now done, the ICC now looks forward to the World Test Championship which will be underway with the Ashes on August 1. It is understood that the changes will almost certainly be approved and implemented quickly so that all the matches in the Championship will have the same safety protocols in place.
It was Hughes’ death in 2014 that sparked the debate on the idea. Cricket Australia had introduced the concept of concussion substitutes in their men’s and women’s domestic tournaments and the BBC for the 2016-17 season. However, the rule was delayed another year in the Sheffield Shield as the ICC had to amend certain rules so that games would not lose their first-class status. The ICC then started a two-year trial of concussion substitutes in domestic cricket, in October 2017.
But even with the change in helmet design, and bigger efforts to provide immediate medical aid in such a situation, many have voiced their support for more stringent protocols.
During the just concluded World Cup, there was a concerted effort to increase education about recognising the symptoms of concussion. Every team had a nominated Team Medical Representative and there was an independent match-day doctor at every game to provide support.