Black Caps tests to feature new concussion subs rule
The Blacks Caps will welcome the concussion substitute rule when they play Sri Lanka next month.
Under the new guidelines, which come into effect on August 1, concussed players can be withdrawn from games and their place taken by a like-for-like replacement subject to approval by the match referee.
The Black Caps start their test series in Sri Lanka on August 14.
The International Cricket Council announced the initiative after the completion of its annual conference. After a two-year trial of concussion replacements in domestic cricket, the ICC has approved its use in all formats of men’s and women’s internationals and for first-class cricket worldwide.
England, Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa are other full member nations that allow concussion subs at domestic level.
There has been growing support in world sport for more stringent protocols regarding concussion.
The rules will also be used for Australia’s Ashes series against England.
The ICC said decisions on replacements will be made by the team’s medical representative though it is unclear what would happen when a side did not have a doctor available.
Cricket has been criticised by doctors and leading player representatives for being behind other international Shashank Manohar ICC chairman
sports on concussion, The
reported. With concussion subs now available, players will no longer be discouraged from seeking treatment at the risk of effectively having their team play with one short.
At the ICC conference Zimbabwe became the first full member nation to be suspended.
Zimbabwe’s suspension, with immediate effect, means it will not be allowed to play any ICC events, throwing into doubt its participation at the T20 World Cup qualifiers in October.
The ICC has also frozen funding to Zimbabwe Cricket. The board decided unanimously that ZC had breached the constitution for failing to ‘‘provide a process for free and democratic elections and to ensure that there is no government interference in its governance and/or administration for cricket respectively’’.
‘‘We do not take the decision to suspend a member lightly, but we must keep our sport free from political interference,’’ ICC chairman Shashank Manohar said.
‘‘What has happened in Zimbabwe is a serious breach of the ICC constitution and we cannot allow it to continue unchecked.
‘‘The ICC wants cricket to continue in Zimbabwe in accordance with the ICC constitution.’’
The ICC has also announced a crackdown on slow over rates with teams to be docked points in the World Test Championship for tardy play. Teams will be deducted two points for each over it is behind, which would be particularly costly for a losing side as it would go into deficit for the game.
Captains will no longer be suspended for breaches but players will now be fined at the same level, effectively doubling their financial sanction.
‘‘We do not take the decision to suspend a member lightly, but we must keep our sport free from political interference.’’