Australia team doctor asks ICC to consider concussion substitutes

The introduction of concussion substitutes should be “very seriously” considered by the ICC, Australia’s team doctor Peter Brukner said after opening batsman Matt Renshaw was ruled out of the ongoing Sydney Test due to concussion.

Renshaw was struck twice on the helmet during the Test against Pakistan, once while batting on day one and again when fielding at short leg on day three. Although he was cleared of concussion after the first blow, he left the field with a headache following the second hit, and the next morning was still suffering ill-effects and was thus ruled out of the match by Brukner.

Cricket Australia’s concussion protocols leave such a decision solely in the hands of medical staff, and Brukner said coach Darren Lehmann and captain Steven Smith had been fully supportive of the decision. However, it means that Australia will be one player short for the remainder of the Test, after the ICC last year rejected a CA proposal to allow concussion substitutes in first-class cricket.

CA has this summer trialled the use of concussion substitutes in the Matador Cup and BBL, meaning that if a player was diagnosed with concussion he could be replaced by another player who would then officially become part of the playing XI. However, it is not permitted in the Sheffield Shield, as that would require the ICC to …

continue reading in source www.espncricinfo.com