Rishabh Pant's freak injury shows it's time for Test cricket to allow injury replacements: 'You should be allowed a sub'

There’s a very high possibility that Rishabh Pant will not play any more part in the ongoing Test series between India and England after injuring his right foot on Day 1 of the Manchester Test on Wednesday. In a freak accident, Pant inside-edged a reverse sweep against Chris Woakes onto his right foot, suffering a painful injury.

Pant was seen bleeding from his right foot as he was taken off the field on a buggy, and was later sent for scans. The BCCI has not provided an update yet, apart from stating that he is being monitored by the medical team.

While fans would hope for a swift return, former cricketers were not so sure. Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting said the metatarsal injury could keep Pant out of the remainder of the series. “He hardly put his foot on the ground. He rolled around for 6-8 minutes before the golf cart came out. The immediate swelling was the worry for me. I’ve had a metatarsal injury myself, and they’re small, fragile bones. The fact he couldn’t put any weight on it — it doesn’t look good at all,” Ponting said.

This is the second injury scare for Pant in the ongoing series after injuring his left index finger in the Lord’s Test while wicket-keeping. As a result, Dhruv Jurel kept wickets for India most of the match, while Pant played only as the batter.

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But a metatarsal could force him out of batting as well in the fourth Test, which would be disastrous news for India as they hope to make a comeback in the Test series. In such a scenario, the main question is whether India can replace him with another player in the Manchester Test?

What are the substitution rules in cricket?

As per the International Cricket Council (ICC) playing conditions, teams are not allowed to bring in full substitutes, in most cases. They are allowed to replace injured players while fielding. The replacement player can field, but the “substitute shall not bowl or act as captain but may act as wicket-keeper only with the consent of the umpires”.

The only situation in which teams can opt for a full substitute is when a player suffers a concussion. The concussion substitute can bat, bowl and field. It has been allowed since 2019, when Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne became the first concussion substitute during the Ashes as he came on for Steve Smith.

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Teams were also allowed COVID-19 replacements during the pandemic, but that rule has now been dissolved.

While international cricket usually follows laws written by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the ICC playing conditions do not follow one rule. As per the MCC’s Laws, players can be substituted if an agreement is reached with the opposition captain.

Vaughan, Olonga call for injury replacements in Test cricket

Former England captain Michael Vaughan feels injury replacements should be allowed in Test cricket, but only in the first innings.

“Injury replacements should be permitted in Test cricket in the first innings of the game. There should be an independent doctor on site. If the doctor deems a player unable to carry on playing, you should be allowed a sub,” he told the BBC.

“It should only be in the first innings. If you allow it to go into the second innings, there could be a little bit of skullduggery. 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 cut-off to make it fair.”

Former Zimbabwe fast bowler Henry Olonga is also open to the idea but with a twist. “I’m open to the idea of substitutes, perhaps with a limited number, but not necessarily like-for-like and not only restricted to injuries,” Olonga told the BBC. “If you want to grow the game globally, then make it more like other sports where subs are allowed.

“Think of football, tactically if a game is going in a certain way, substitutes can be used to tweak the direction. If a fast bowler is going for a few runs, why not replace them with a spinner? I don’t think it will be a popular opinion, but I am sticking to it."

The MCC has also said that it “constantly monitors and reviews all Laws to make sure they remain fit for the modern game” in a statement to the BBC, indicating that they may work towards allowing injury replacements in Test cricket.

Considering Pant’s importance to India’s batting line-up, the unfortunate incident only highlights that the time has come for international cricket to allow injury replacements, at least in Test cricket.