ICC discussing COVID-19 substitutes for test matches: ECB officials


ICC discussing COVID-19 substitutes for test matches: ECB officials

Test Substitute

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is talking about the possibility of introducing substitutes if a player tests positive for the virus during a test match, said England and Wales Cricket Board director of special project Steve Elworthy.

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Last year, the ICC approved “like for like” substitutes across all formats of international cricket across all the formats to replace devised players during matches and the same rule will be applied for the COVID-19 substitutes said Elworthy.

“COVID replacements are certainly something that the ICC are discussing,” Elworthy told Sky Sports.

“I’ve seen communication about that and it’s certainly something we hope would be allowed — specifically for test matches, not necessarily ODIs (one-day internationals) or T20s (Twenty20). That replacement would have to be a ‘like for like’ player… Our on-site COVID medical practitioner and Public Health England would be informed immediately and that player would then be put into isolation for a period of time. With the testing protocols of getting those players into that (bio-secure) bubble first, you would hope that wouldn’t be a scenario we’d have to deal with, But clearly it’s something we are planning for.” Elworthy added.

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England announced to host a three-test series against West Indies next month, the first test planned to be held on July 8 in Southampton with 14 -man squad plus 11 substitutes who will train and stay in quarantine together.