Concussion Substitute - Explained !!

Yesterday, India met Australia at Manuka Oval, Canberra for a T20I match. This T20I game will be the first one of the three match T20I series, in which Australia won the toss and opted to bowl first. India scored 161/7 and in reply Aussies scored 150/7, resulting that India have begun the tour with a triumph. During India's Innings, at 19.2 overs, Cricketer Ravindra Jadeja has been hit by ball at the helmet, and he played till the end of 20 overs, where even after got hit, he struck two fours. After the end of first innings, it was reported that Jadeja may have felt some concussion, which may result in bringing on a cricketer as a replacement and that cricketer is Yuzvendira Chahal. This replacement made Australian Coach, Justin Langer bit furious. He discussed with David Boon, Former Australian Cricketer and current ICC member, who said that this has been approved. This move turned into a controversy, as in the second innings, Chahal grabbed crucial wickets to ensure India winning. So, in this blog, the law of Concussion Substitute is Explained !!

This move turned into controversy, and there are two main questions asked by the fans in the social media. One question, is replacing Jadeja with Chahal, amount to like-to-like replacement ? and the other question is eventhough Jadeja got hit at his head, he continued his batting. If he had suffered some concussion or in simple words, some giddiness, he should have stopped his batting, instead he played till the last ball and didn't call anyone.

First one is, what is Concussion Substitute in cricket ? Basically, concussion substitute is a substitute player named for the main player, who got hit by ball and find some giddiness and concussion. This was first applied during 2019 Ashes Test Series between England and Australia at 2nd Test, Lords where Steve Smith got hit by Archer in his head, which caused some minor Dizziness, prompting him to leave the field and Marnus Labuschagne was named as a concussion substitute for him. Unlike other substitution, where they come into the field only for fielding, in this substitution, they substitute player can bat/bowl. 

Okay, I'll give a clear explanation, represented in the law. As per ICC's Code of Conduct Law, in the article 1.2.8, substitution is explained. At that, the first point mentioned is that,

• When a concussion substitute is announced, that substitute player should be a like for like replacement for the actual player. In accessing the like for like replacement, ICC's Match Referee should consider the likely role, which the actual player would have done in the remaining part of the match, along with the normal role done by the substitute player in the remaining part of the match.
• If the ICC Match Referee believes that the inclusion of the nominated Concussion Replacement, when performing their normal role, would excessively advantage their team, the Match Referee may impose such conditions upon the identity and involvement of the Concussion Replacement as he/she sees fit, in line with the overriding objective of facilitating a like-for-like replacement for the concussed player.

In the first point itself the answer for full question is present. A concussion substitute should be a like for like replacement. But, the thing is the accessing what would have done by the actual player in the remaining part of the match along with the role of substitute in the remaining part of the match. So, when we think in the case of Ravindra Jadeja, he has been a phenomenal all rounder in all forms of cricket, whereas Yuzvendra Chahal is a pure leg spinner. In the first part of the innings, Jadeja batted throughout. If he hadn't suffered concussion, the role of Jadeja would be to bowl in the second innings. Comparing him with the concussion Substitute, the role of Chahal, is also the same, to bowl in the second innings. If Jadeja would have been a pure batsman, then this wouldn't have occurred. But, since Jadeja remains as an all rounder and his role is to bowl in the second innings, which matches with Chahal's role in the second innings, this concussion substitution is allowed and this decision is granted by ICC's Match Referee. 

Now, the second question, why Chahal has been named as Concussion Substitute for Jadeja, who have played 3-4 balls even after getting hit ? This situation held at end of the first innings and just for the case of four deliveries, the medical team weren't asked by Jadeja. Along with this, he felt some dizziness after the end of first innings. Without any dizzy feeling, no one can ask for concussion and this substitution won't be approved by ICC, if there weren't any proper evidence to prove their act. 

In 2019 Ashes Test Series, during the 2nd test match, Steve Smith was hit twice and he haven't named concussion substitute in the first time, while the second time marked his seating out and beginning of career for Marnus Labuschagne. So, it is not based on when we got hit. It is based on when the batsmen feel something dizzy or giddy due to the after effect which may vary with time of occurance.  

Right Now, Ravindra Jadeja has been ruled out of T20I series, which gets concluded on 8th of December at Sydney Cricket Ground. Shardul Thakur has been named as a replacement for him, who is the leading wicket taker for India, in 2020, T20Is.