Cricket Australia came up with a rule that would aid a team that has an injured player in their playing 11 who got injured while playing the First-Class match. The rule provides for a substitute for that injured player and the first such substitute was Charlie Stobo, who replaced Sean Abbott of New South Wales (NSW) in their Sheffield Shield match against Victoria.
Who is Charlie Stobo?
Stobo, who replaced Abbott, who had split the webbing of his arm, trying to stop a straight drive from Peter Handscomb, is a 30-year-old pacer who has played for Western Australia, Durham’s Second XI and NSW, has experience of 23 First-Class games, 16 List-A games.
What Did Players Have To Say About The Rule?
While NSW pacer Liam Hatcher was all in for the rule, a more principled Handscomb of Victoria felt that it diluted the virtue of First-Class cricket.
"I think first-class cricket and Test cricket is a game of attrition. And if you pick a team, and then you can just sub a bloke out halfway through, it takes that factor away,” Handscomb was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
"This is a bloody hard game for four days, and you've got to keep backing up and fronting up and doing everything. So I'm all aboard the concussion sub. I think that's a excellent rule. But injuries are part of the game. I think unfortunately, you just kind of have to deal with them, and they haven't,” he added.
Hatcher, on the other hand, said, "I'd much rather have Stobes in than be a man down, especially when you get a flat wicket and stuff that's out of your control like that. Yeah, I don't mind it."
As part of the rule, to make sure that the other team is not disadvantaged, Victoria also have the opportunity to make a tactical substitution of one like-for-like bowler if they feel they need to, before stumps on day two of the match.
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Who Is Charlie Stobo? First Non-Concussion Substitute In Australia's Sheffield Shield – Cricket.com
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