Changes made to Replacement Player Regulation trial
Two changes to the Replacement Player Regulations trial have been confirmed for the remainder of this season’s Rothesay County Championship.
Both changes were recommended following a collaborative process involving the Professional County Clubs (PCCs), the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA) and the ECB, and relate to Section 8 of the Regulations – ‘Activation of a Replacement Player’ – whereby:
- Injury or illness replacements must now be activated, or the match referee notified that an affected player is undergoing an injury or illness assessment, before the third innings of a match (Regulation 8.3).
- Approval of a replacement player will not take into account the relative quality, experience or record of the player being replaced and the replacement player. It will be based on skillset only.
In the case of a significant life event or concussion, a replacement player may continue to be activated at any time during a Rothesay County Championship match.
This season’s Replacement Player Regulation trial in the Rothesay County Championship follows replacement player trials conducted in domestic men’s first-class domestic cricket in Australia, India and South Africa.
The ECB confirmed ahead of the season that it would consider changes to the trial during the season and that it would seek and listen to feedback from the PCCs and PCA as part of that process.
Having taken on board this feedback from the first nine rounds of the Rothesay County Championship, the change from an injury or illness replacement being available throughout the match required, and has received, ECB Board approval.
Both the Cricket Advisory Group (CAG) and Professional Game Committee (PGC) were supportive of that change, which is designed to address any concerns that a team could gain advantage by being able to bring on a fresh bowler for their second bowling innings.
The CAG and PGC also recommended the basis on which the Match Referee would approve a replacement player. This will not take into account the relative quality, experience or record of the player being replaced and the replacement player. It will be based on skillset only, for example a quick bowler for a quick bowler or a batter for a batter.
It was also concluded that mid-season changes would not compromise the integrity of the Rothesay County Championship, given all teams have played the same number of matches until now and will be playing in all the remaining rounds still to come from the competition’s resumption in August.
The ECB will assess the full results of the trial at the end of the season, including seeking further feedback from stakeholders including Professional Counties and the PCA, before considering next steps
