England vs India: Ought to harm substitutions be allowed in cricket after Chris Woakes suffers shoulder scare on day considered one of fifth Check?

For a second time within the England-India collection, the query of whether or not Check cricket ought to permit for harm substitutions has arisen.

This time, it is an England participant in query. On day one of many fifth and ultimate Check towards India at The Oval, tempo bowler Chris Woakes was escorted off clutching his left shoulder in seen ache.

The 36-year-old landed awkwardly on his shoulder within the 57th over when he was chasing after the ball to forestall a boundary after which walked off together with his left shoulder wrapped in his sweater.

Rishabh Pant, India’s wicketkeeper-batter, retired harm on the primary day of the drawn fourth Check in Manchester however got here again on the second day to proceed his innings, regardless of scans confirming a fracture on his proper foot.

What are the present guidelines?

The Worldwide Cricket Council (ICC) at the moment doesn’t permit for full substitutions in Check cricket.

Groups are allowed to switch injured gamers within the subject, however the “substitute shall not bowl or act as captain but may act as wicket-keeper only with the consent of the umpires”.

Nevertheless, if a participant suffers a concussion, then a substitute is allowed.

This rule has been in place since 2019, when Australia’s Steve Smith was hit within the neck with a 92mph bouncer from Jofra Archer, with Marnus Labuschagne changing him and changing into the primary concussion sub in Check cricket.

Conussion subs are allowed to bat and bowl.

What do Sky Sports activities’ pundits suppose?

Sky Sports activities’ Dinesh Karthik mentioned there could also be scope to ask for an harm substitute in a Check if the match referee agrees with it.

“For the second time in this series, on day one of a Test match, an injury has happened where you get the feeling that the player couldn’t participate in the Test match anymore,” Karthik mentioned.

“It begs the question that if it is a proper injury, like what we have noticed on the field with Woakes, maybe the team could ask for a replacement if the match referee feels it’s okay.”

Former England bowler Stuart Broad mentioned there have been arguments to be made on each side, however a substitute would enhance the standard and customary of the cricket.

“There are decent arguments either way, aren’t there?” Broad mentioned.

“It would certainly improve the standard and quality of cricket if you could keep it at 11-v-11 throughout the game, especially when it’s unusual injuries, like Pant’s last week or what has happened with Woakes.

“He has not come into the sport with that sole harm or is attempting to handle an harm.”

Atkinson: Woakes’ potential harm ‘would not look nice’

Gus Atkinson, who was simply the decide of the bowlers with 2-31 in 19 overs in addition to the important thing run out of Shubman Gill, mentioned: “It doesn’t look great. I will be surprised if he takes any part in the game.

“It is a large disgrace when anybody will get injured. I am hoping it isn’t too unhealthy however no matter it’s he’ll get the total help from everybody.”

Should Woakes be ruled out, as looks increasingly likely, Atkinson will find himself as the most senior member of the attack in just his 13th appearance.

He is only just back from a niggling hamstring problem that dates back to May’s one-off Test against Zimbabwe but stands ready to take a greater burden as England attempt to turn their 2-1 lead into a 3-1 series win.

“I really feel recent, I really feel good and I do know I’ve solely obtained this one recreation to play so I can push the bounds a bit,” he said.

“It was disappointing to overlook the primary 4 video games of the collection, I’ve by no means actually had a muscle harm like that earlier than, however to come back again for this vital recreation at my house floor is sweet.

“I felt like I bowled well and challenged the batters at times.”

Stokes: Dialog about harm subs is ‘completely ridiculous’

England’s captain Ben Stokes, who was dominated out of the fifth Check with a proper shoulder harm that has a lay-off time of round “six to seven weeks”, mentioned the dialog about harm substitutions is “absolutely ridiculous”.

Talking to the media after the fourth Check, Sokes mentioned: “I think this conversation around an injury replacement is absolutely ridiculous.

“There might be too many loopholes for groups to have the ability to undergo. You decide your 11 for a recreation, and accidents are part of the sport.

“I completely understand the concussion replacement, because that’s player welfare and safety.

“However I feel the dialog ought to truthfully cease round harm replacements, as a result of when you stick me in an MRI scanner, I might get another person in immediately.

“It could show that someone has a bit of inflammation around their knee and then they can then get another fresh bowler in.

“The dialog ought to be shut down.”

India coach Gambhir requires introduction of harm substitute

After Pant’s harm within the fourth Check, India coach Gautam Gambhir referred to as for the introduction of harm replacements in Check cricket.

Gambhir believes that in cases much like Pant’s, an harm substitute ought to be allowed.

“Absolutely, I’m all for it,” Gambhir mentioned.

“If the umpires and the match referee see and feel that it’s a major injury, I think it’s very important.

“It is essential to have this rule the place you will get a substitute – that’s, if it’s extremely seen.

“There’s nothing wrong in doing that, especially in a series like this where it’s been such a closely fought series in the previous three Test matches.

“Think about if we needed to play with 10 males towards 11. How unlucky would this be for us.”

Watch day two of the fifth Test between England and India, at The Kia Oval, live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10.15am on Friday (first ball at 11am) or stream and not using a contract.

England vs India – outcomes and schedule

All video games at 11am UK and Eire; all on Sky Sports activities