The International Cricket Council (ICC) is set to consider a groundbreaking change that could allow like-for-like replacements for players suffering external injuries during a Test match — a potential shift spurred by Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant’s painful episode in the fourth Test against England.
Pant fractured his toe on Day 1 after attempting a reverse sweep, visibly struggling in pain and eventually being carried off in a buggy. Yet, due to current ICC rules prohibiting batting or bowling substitutes, he returned to the crease the next day, scored a gutsy 54 while limping between the wickets, and reignited a long-simmering debate in cricket circles: should injured players be allowed full replacements mid-match?
Rule change under active consideration by ICC
According to a report by Times of India, the ICC is seriously weighing the possibility of allowing injury replacements during a match. The rule, if ratified, would mark a historic shift in Test cricket’s long-standing playing conditions.
“There is a chance that teams will get to bring in a replacement for serious external injuries. The matter is already under deliberation. A ratification is expected in the next ICC cricket committee meeting,” an ICC source said, as quoted by Times of India.
This comes after the ICC had already announced on June 25 that a trial would be conducted by Full Members for an injury replacement protocol:
“A player who suffers a serious injury on the field of play any time after the match has started (including any pre-match warm-up period) may be replaced for the remainder of the match by a fully participating like-for-like player,” the ICC had said in a statement on June 25.
Under current ICC rules, substitute players can only field — they’re not permitted to bat or bowl. As a result, even with Dhruv Jurel in the squad as a backup keeper, India had no option but to send Pant back out to bat, despite a broken toe and clear medical advice suggesting rest.
Support builds — but not everyone agrees
Former England captain Michael Vaughan has been one of the most vocal advocates for the change, believing it’s time cricket moves closer to how other major sports handle injuries.
“Injury replacements should be permitted in Tests in the first innings of the game,” Vaughan had told BBC Sport two months ago.
“If there’s a genuine injury in the first innings, it affects the game and the entertainment, which fans pay money to watch. The first innings is a good cutoff to make it fair.”
Vaughan reiterated his position after the Manchester Test:
“I don’t like the fact that we’ve got four days left and we’re heading into what is effectively a 10 vs 11 contest,” Michael Vaughan said, as quoted by India Today.
“When concussion substitutes were introduced, I felt we should’ve gone a step further. If someone suffers a clear injury — like a broken foot or a ruptured muscle — they should be allowed to be replaced.”
But not everyone is fully on board.
India’s Shardul Thakur cautioned against introducing any mid-cycle rule changes that could impact the current ICC World Test Championship (WTC).
“I think, I think there’s some discussion going on if I’m not wrong. I was reading, reading it in the news, whether that should come in play or not, right now I couldn’t say much, but if it happens, I would say it should happen after this cycle of WTC. It shouldn’t happen in the middle because already there are a few series that have been playing in world cricket. And it could be unfair when it comes to the points table and qualifying for the finals, looking at the whole WTC cycle,” said Thakur, as quoted by India Today.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain also struck a cautionary tone, expressing concerns over how such a rule might be manipulated.
“There was a debate about substitutes and I’m anti [non-concussion] substitutes. I just think you’ve got to be very careful. For the Pant incident it’s perfect, with an obvious dodgy foot, but players will push the rules and the laws to the limits,” said Hussain, as quoted by India Today.
A change driven by a painful moment
Pant’s innings, while celebrated, also highlighted the human cost of rigid playing conditions. The Indian vice-captain, who already had a history of serious injury from a previous car crash, may now be out for several weeks — potentially missing the remainder of the England tour.
With Pant ruled out of the fifth Test, Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper-batter N Jagadeesan is expected to be called up as his replacement. Ishan Kishan was also considered but is reportedly unavailable due to injury.
The debate has intensified — and all signs point to the ICC responding. As discussions accelerate behind the scenes, the cricket world awaits a final decision at the next ICC committee meeting, which could usher in a more flexible and humane era for injured players on the field.
