HEAD KNOCK SUBS PUSH
Cricket Australia’s plan to shake up Test cricket
A CONCUSSION substitute could be on its way to Test cricket, with Cricket Australia set to lobby the ICC to fast-track the rule in 2019, in what would be a radical change to the game’s traditions. A two-year trial in domestic first-class cricket is set to be given a tick by Sports Science manager Alex Kountouris who confirmed it was “realistic” to think it would be in place at Test level soon.
“We’re hopeful it will happen and there’s not a lot of downside to it. We all love the game and the traditions of it, but every game evolves,” he said.
In the recent series against Sri Lanka, batsmen Kusal Perera and Dimuth Karunaratne were forced to retire hurt with head knocks.
The news comes as Ricky Ponting has been appointed as an assistant coach for Australia’s looming World Cup campaign.
A CONCUSSION substitute is on its way to Test cricket, according to Cricket Australia.
CA will lobby the ICC to fast-track the rule in 2019 in what would be a radical change to the game’s traditions.
Sports science and sports medicine manager Alex Kountouris is set to give the twoyear domestic trial a tick although the grey rule still has bugs, particularly finding fair replacements during games.
“I think it’s realistic to think we could see it (at Test level) soon,” Kountouris said.
“We’re hopeful it’ll happen and there’s not a lot of downside to it. We all love the game and the traditions of it, but every game evolves.
“You’re not going to rort a concussion sub. You have to actually get hit in the head and be diagnosed with concussion.
“This was the last season of the trial so the ICC will have to make a decision on what we do with concussion subs.”
CA has evolved its concussion policy every year for the past five years as it collects a wealth of data, including how many head impacts result in concussions.
The Sheffield Shield records about six to eight concussions per season.
Male and female cricketers both suffer between 10-20 con- cussions each year, although it varies along with the number of games played.
Given helmets absorb a lot of the impact, Kountouris said cricket usually deals with mild cases.
“About 80 per cent miss a week, 7-10 days is the range,” he said.
While CA has a 15-page concussion and head trauma policy, the ICC only has guidelines.
“Cricket’s a sport with no subs at all so everyone was a bit nervous about the rule,” Kountouris said.
“But if you get hit in the head sometimes the way you think is altered so trying to get a player to make a rational decision is a bit hard.
“It’s worked well. We haven’t had any major controversies or issues. People have accepted the doctor’s decision.”