New Delhi, Aug 1: England pacer Chris Woakes’ shoulder injury has reignited the debate around the injury replacements in Tests, with former fast bowler Stuart Broad suggesting that replacement rule would improve the quality and standard of the cricket.
Earlier, India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant retired hurt on the first day of the drawn fourth Test in Manchester but courageously returned to the crease the next day with a broken right foot. India were able to use Dhruv Jurel, a substitute, as their wicketkeeper in Pant’s place, but he wasn’t available to bat in their second innings due to ICC rules.
“There are decent arguments either way, aren’t there? 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,” Broad said on Sky Sports.
Former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik is also in favour of an injury replacement. “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. 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,” Karthik said. (IANS)