Cricket Dec 07, 2025

England vs India: Should injury substitutions be allowed in cricket after Chris Woakes suffers shoulder scare on day one of fifth Test?

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
England vs India: Should injury substitutions be allowed in cricket after Chris Woakes suffers shoulder scare on day one of fifth Test?

For a second time in the England-India series, the question of whether Test cricket should allow for injury substitutions has arisen.

This time, it's an England player in question.

Seam bowler fielding late on day one of the fifth Test at The Kia Oval and will now miss the rest of the game.

Rishabh Pant, India's wicketkeeper-batter, retired hurt on the first day of the drawn fourth Test in Manchester but came back on the second day to continue his innings, despite scans confirming a fracture on his right foot.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) currently does not allow for full substitutions in Test cricket.

Teams are allowed to replace injured players in the field, but the "substitute shall not bowl or act as captain but may act as wicket-keeper only with the consent of the umpires".

However, if a player suffers a concussion, then a replacement is allowed.

This rule has been in place since 2019, when Australia's Steve Smith was hit in the neck with a 92mph bouncer from Jofra Archer, with Marnus Labuschagne replacing him and becoming the first concussion sub in Test cricket.

Cocnussion subs are allowed to bat and bowl.

SportNews' Dinesh Karthik said there may be scope to ask for an injury replacement in a Test if the match referee agrees with it.

"For the second time in this series, on day one of a Test match, an injury has happened where you get the feeling that the player couldn't participate in the Test match anymore," Karthik said.

"It begs the question that if it is a proper injury, like what we have noticed on the field with Woakes, maybe the team could ask for a replacement if the match referee feels it's okay."

Former England bowler Stuart Broad said there were arguments to be made on both sides, but a replacement would improve the quality and standard of the cricket.

"There are decent arguments either way, aren't there?" Broad said.

"It would certainly improve the standard and quality of cricket if you could keep it at 11-v-11 throughout the game, especially when it's unusual injuries, like Pant's last week or what has happened with Woakes.

"He has not come into the game with that sole injury or is trying to manage an injury."

England's captain Ben Stokes, who was ruled out of the fifth Test with a right shoulder injury that has a lay-off time of around "six to seven weeks", said the conversation about injury substitutions is "absolutely ridiculous".

Speaking to the media after the fourth Test, Sokes said: "I think this conversation around an injury replacement is absolutely ridiculous.

"There will be too many loopholes for teams to be able to go through. You pick your 11 for a game, and injuries are a part of the game.

"I completely understand the concussion replacement, because that's player welfare and safety.

"But I think the conversation should honestly stop around injury replacements, because if you stick me in an MRI scanner, I could get someone else in straight away.

"It could show that someone has a bit of inflammation around their knee and then they can then get another fresh bowler in.

"The conversation should be shut down."

After Pant's injury in the fourth Test, India coach Gautam Gambhir called for the introduction of injury replacements in Test cricket.

Gambhir believes that in instances similar to Pant's, an injury replacement should be allowed.

"Absolutely, I'm all for it," Gambhir said.

"If the umpires and the match referee see and feel that it's a major injury, I think it's very important.

"It's very important to have this rule where you can get a substitute - that is, if it's very visible.

"There's nothing wrong in doing that, especially in a series like this where it's been such a closely fought series in the previous three Test matches.

"Imagine if we had to play with 10 men against 11. How unfortunate would this be for us."

Watch day two of the fifth Test between England and India, at The Kia Oval, live on SportNews Cricket from 10.15am on Friday (first ball at 11am)

All games at 11am UK and Ireland; all on SportNews

Tags:

cricket news id:13404801

Share this article

Related Posts

Sri Lanka vs England: Jos Buttler breaks appearance record as Harry Brook and Tom Banton seal T20 series win

Sri Lanka vs England: Jos Buttler breaks appearance record as Harry Brook and Tom Banton seal T20 series win

Jos Buttler's record-setting 402nd England appearance came in a series-sealing victory as captain Harry Brook's cameo and Tom Banton's half-century sm...

Ben Stokes: England Test captain undergoes successful surgery on eye injury suffered after being struck by a cricket ball

Ben Stokes: England Test captain undergoes successful surgery on eye injury suffered after being struck by a cricket ball

England Test captain Ben Stokes has undergone successful surgery on an eye injury he suffered after being struck by a cricket ball earlier this month....

Women's T20 World Cup 2026: Scotland and Ireland qualify for summer event in England

Women's T20 World Cup 2026: Scotland and Ireland qualify for summer event in England

Scotland and Ireland have qualified for this summer's Women's T20 World Cup after comprehensive victories.The two countries have been playing in Nepal...

T20 World Cup: England's Harry Brook thrives at No 3 as Brendon McCullum 'mastermind' move pays off

T20 World Cup: England's Harry Brook thrives at No 3 as Brendon McCullum 'mastermind' move pays off

Many of Brendon McCullum's decisions were panned as England tumbled to a largely self-inflicted 4-1 Ashes defeat this winter - but his latest call rea...

Alyssa Healy: Australia women's cricket legend ends one-day international career with 158 in win against India in Hobart

Alyssa Healy: Australia women's cricket legend ends one-day international career with 158 in win against India in Hobart

Australian women's cricket great Alyssa Healy ended her one-day international career with a sublime knock of 158 as Australia comfortably beat India i...

Women's T20 World Cup 2026: England out to 'capture the nation' as Nat Sciver-Brunt looks to replicate Lionesses and Red Roses' success

Women's T20 World Cup 2026: England out to 'capture the nation' as Nat Sciver-Brunt looks to replicate Lionesses and Red Roses' success

England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt hopes her side can "capture the nation" during the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup on home soil this summer.The tournament...