The Concussion Substitute Rule allows a team to replace a player who suffers a concussion or suspected concussion during a match. The replacement is a full substitute, meaning the new player can bat, bowl, field, and keep wicket if required.
The rule was introduced by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on 1 August 2019 to improve player safety. Before this rule, teams could only use a substitute fielder, who was not allowed to bat or bowl.
How Does the ICC Concussion Substitute Rule Work?
A concussion substitute is allowed only if certain ICC conditions are met.
| ICC Requirement | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Injury during the match | The head or neck injury must happen during play. |
| Medical diagnosis | The team’s medical representative or match doctor must confirm a concussion or suspected concussion. |
| Match referee approval | The ICC Match Referee must approve the replacement. |
| Like-for-like replacement | The substitute should perform a similar role to the injured player. |
| Full participation | Once approved, the substitute can bat, bowl, field, and keep wicket if applicable. |
The match referee can also place restrictions on the substitute if needed to keep the replacement fair.
Key ICC Regulations Every Cricket Fan Should Know
Here are the most important points about the concussion substitute rule:
- A player cannot be replaced simply because they are injured. The injury must involve a concussion or suspected concussion.
- The replacement must be a like-for-like player. For example, a specialist fast bowler is usually replaced by another fast bowler rather than a specialist batter.
- The ICC Match Referee has the final decision on whether the replacement is fair.
- Once the substitute is approved, the injured player cannot return to that match.
- Under updated ICC playing conditions, teams must also nominate designated concussion replacement players before the match, and a concussed player must observe a minimum seven-day stand-down period before returning to international cricket.
Famous Example
- Steve Smith (2019 Ashes): Smith missed the remainder of the Test after suffering a concussion from a bouncer and was replaced under the concussion substitute rule.
- India vs England (2025 T20I): India replaced Shivam Dube with Harshit Rana, leading to debate over whether the replacement was truly “like-for-like.” The match referee approved the substitution under ICC regulations.