Does cricket need to change its attitude regarding concussion?

[Donal Cozzie]

Increasingly in the last few years we are seeing medical reports into sports such as rugby and NFL, and entertainment such as WWE, cast a damning indictment on how those sports/federations treated concussion. Players being encouraged to play on, the injury not being taken seriously etc leading to players in later years developing serious health issues and in some cases even dying prematurely.

This isnt just for those sports, football now has taken on an increased sense of responsibility in this regard. As an example, Mo Salah missed Liverpools crucial Champions League semi final second leg due to a concussion he had sustained a full week before in order to give him time to rest.

In light of this, I find it odd that a) Amla in an earlier game, after being shaken up so badly he had to retire hurt, was allowed return to the crease and bat, despite the injury being so severe he had to miss training the following days.

Today, even more concerning, Hashmatullah Shahidi, after being floored by a bouncer and play being stopped for several minutes, batted on anyway against the medical advice as he "didnt want to leave his teammates". While that is admirable, surely player health should take preference and potentially a substitute batsman allowed rather than risking an already potentially (and likely) concussed cricketer potentially receiving another serious blow and, potentially, a serious injury, by batting on?

In football a star player had to sit out over a week to ensure he recovered fully. Meanwhile in cricket players who exhibit signs of concussion return to bat and then play more games days later when the medical advice on this injury is typically for a player to sit out for several days if not longer?

Is cricket sorely lacking in this regard and are we potentially going to see serious injury? Every other sport is raising awareness in this regard, in light of the shocking post career injuries of certain sportspeople.

 

[HussainRx8]

Short answer is yes. The players association needs to push this.

 

[BaankeJi]

Good topic. Valid points. Concussion cannot be taken lightly.

 

[Tintin_FTW]

This may be an unpopular opinion but it concerns me that cricket may end up overreacting when it comes to concussion.

As it stands I don't know of any players who have played the game that have suffered from concussion-related problems later in life, if someone can provide me with examples then I would be happy to reconsider my opinion.

Also remember that cricket was played decades without half the safety equipment we have today and yet it was other sports and leagues such as NFL, Rugby and Football that have more problems when it comes to concussion and cricket as far as I'm aware it has been a relative non-issue. Those sports mentioned above are vastly different to cricket in terms of the frequency of head knocks and also the nature of those head knocks. I don't think we should be basing rule changes on the concerns of other sports.

My fear is that if we become to caucious with concussion and batsmen are been taken off all the time then it only incentivises bowlers to continue to bowl short because if they hit a batsmen on the head and he is forced to leave the field then it is as good as bowling him or getting him out LBW. Now of course you can have substitutes which are probably going to be introduced but even then it will still be a new batsmen walking to the crease, possibly an inferior one to the player who is forced to come off.

Its important to remember that there are often no solutions but only trade-offs.

 

[leatherface58]

This may be an unpopular opinion but it concerns me that cricket may end up overreacting when it comes to concussion.

As it stands I don't know of any players who have played the game that have suffered from concussion-related problems later in life, if someone can provide me with examples then I would be happy to reconsider my opinion.

Also remember that cricket was played decades without half the safety equipment we have today and yet it was other sports and leagues such as NFL, Rugby and Football that have more problems when it comes to concussion and cricket as far as I'm aware it has been a relative non-issue. Those sports mentioned above are vastly different to cricket in terms of the frequency of head knocks and also the nature of those head knocks. I don't think we should be basing rule changes on the concerns of other sports.

My fear is that if we become to caucious with concussion and batsmen are been taken off all the time then it only incentivises bowlers to continue to bowl short because if they hit a batsmen on the head and he is forced to leave the field then it is as good as bowling him or getting him out LBW. Now of course you can have substitutes which are probably going to be introduced but even then it will still be a new batsmen walking to the crease, possibly an inferior one to the player who is forced to come off.

Its important to remember that there are often no solutions but only trade-offs.

You do not need to be blacked out to be concussed. Even landing on your back hard enough to send a shock wave into your brain constitutes a concussion. If you start neglecting this issue only because it has not happened yet, that is how tragedies happen.

WWE ignored concussions until the Benoit tragedy happened. You do not want that kind of crap in cricket, do you?

 

[Tintin_FTW]

You do not need to be blacked out to be concussed. Even landing on your back hard enough to send a shock wave into your brain constitutes a concussion. If you start neglecting this issue only because it has not happened yet, that is how tragedies happen.

WWE ignored concussions until the Benoit tragedy happened. You do not want that kind of crap in cricket, do you?

Cricket isn't WWE. Players played without helmets for decades and yet have we seen similar tragedies in cricket? I don't think so, so then why would wearing helmets increase the chance of such a thing happening.

 

[Tintin_FTW]

You do not need to be blacked out to be concussed. Even landing on your back hard enough to send a shock wave into your brain constitutes a concussion. If you start neglecting this issue only because it has not happened yet, that is how tragedies happen.

WWE ignored concussions until the Benoit tragedy happened. You do not want that kind of crap in cricket, do you?

Also, I didn't say anything about concussion only occurs when someone is blacked out. Stop been so dishonest.

 

[leatherface58]

Cricket isn't WWE. Players played without helmets for decades and yet have we seen similar tragedies in cricket? I don't think so, so then why would wearing helmets increase the chance of such a thing happening.

Helmets prevent death, not injury for the most part. The Hughes incident had not happened before either. Brain injuries should be treated with the utmost seriousness because their effects are felt sometimes years after the incident.

 

[MenInG]

SOUTHAMPTON, England (Reuters) - Afghanistan’s Hashmatullah Shahidi’s decision to ignore medical advice and keep batting even after being floored by a bouncer on Tuesday has prompted demands that cricketers should not be allowed to take those calls.

Shahidi was smacked flush on the side of his helmet as he took his eyes off a Mark Wood bouncer in the World Cup contest against England at Old Trafford. The impact split the helmet and sent the batsman crashing to the turf.

Medical staff attending him urged the 24-year-old to leave the ground but Shahidi ignored their advice and played on, topscoring for his side in a losing cause.

The cricketer said he disregarded medical advice and kept on batting because he did not want his mother to worry.

Peter McCabe, chief executive of brain injury association Headway, lamented the lack of understanding about the dangers of concussion.

“Players need to take the advice of doctors and adhere to the protocols, rather than follow a misguided sense of duty to their teammates which could result in a serious, possibly lifelong, injury,” he said in a statement to Reuters.

“The decision must be taken out of players’ hands. If the doctor advises the player to leave the field then they should promptly do so, there should be no debate whatsoever.

“We know that the signs and symptoms of concussion can be delayed in their presentation, which is why it is so important to take an ‘if in doubt, sit it out’ approach to head injuries.”

An International Cricket Council (ICC) spokesman told Reuters that the governing body does not have a final say in such cases.

“It’s the responsibility of each team to look after their players,” the official said.

“Every team has a nominated medical representative who decides all medical issues relating to players, including concussion.”

The governing body treats such incidents seriously and arranges pre-event concussion briefing with every team, the official added.

Earlier this month, Shahidi’s team mate Rashid Khan failed two concussion tests and could not field after being hit by a Lockie Ferguson delivery in a match against New Zealand.

HELMETS TO BLAME?
Former Australia test batsman Phillip Hughes died in 2014 after being fatally hit on the head by a bouncer in a first class match.

Concussion is a major concern in other sports as well and rugby has put in place robust guidelines to deal with head injuries.

Batsmen with superior techniques including Usman Khawaja and Hashim Amla have also suffered sickening blows to the helmet - the Australian in a warm-up match and the South African against England.

Former Australia captain Ian Chappell, in a column for ESPNCricinfo website earlier this year, blamed it on the advent of helmets and how it impacted batting technique.

“Before helmets, batting technique was more inclined to the back foot,” Chappell wrote.

“Now there’s an increasing tendency to charge onto the front foot, emboldened by the impression that the chances of injury are severely reduced than in days past.

“This change in attitude makes it harder to evade short-pitched deliveries, and this is exacerbated if the batsman takes his eyes off the ball.”

Chappell reckoned modern batsmen, lulled into a sense of safety by the protective gears, do not follow the ball closely enough.

“Before helmets, fewer players were hit in the head, because they had an interest in avoiding contact: it was going to hurt. Therefore they tended to watch the ball closely to make sure they didn’t get hit.”

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-c...rs-should-take-concussion-calls-idUKKCN1TL18R

 

[Gabbar Singh]

“The cricketer said he disregarded medical advice and kept on batting because he did not want his mother to worry.“

Yes because suffering a serious head injury and then refusing medical advice won’t make your mother worry.

 

[MenInG]

Cricket Australia supports ICC's concussion substitutes moveCricket Australia has endorsed the International Cricket Council’s decision to introduce concussion substitutes ahead of the forthcoming men’s Ashes series in England.

Concussion substitutes have been trialled at domestic level in Australia since the 2016-17 season.

The ICC Board confirmed at its annual conference in London overnight that concussion substitutes will come into effect in international cricket from August 1, the same day Australia and England begin the first men’s Ashes Test at Edgbaston.

The replacement player will need to be like-for-like to the one substituted out and will be subject to the approval of the Match Referee.

Alex Kountouris, Cricket Australia’s Sports Science and Sports Medicine Manager, welcomed the ICC Board’s decision.

“Cricket Australia has been trialling concussion substitutes since 2016-17 in domestic limited overs matches (one-day and T20) and since 2017-18 in first-class domestic matches,” Kountouris said.

“The introduction of the substitutes has been well received across Australian Cricket by players, coaches and medical staff. It has allowed medical staff to assess players with suspected concussion during matches free of the pressures of leaving a team one player short.

“Additionally, the rule will also allow players to declare symptoms of concussion (that can sometimes occur well after the incident), knowing that their team will not be disadvantaged.”

Belinda Clark, Cricket Australia’s Interim Executive General Manager Team Performance, said CA was proud to have played a leading role in regards to concussion substitutes.

"We welcome the introduction of concussion substitutes for international cricket,” Clark said.

“It's something we're proud to have been at the forefront of and we're delighted the ICC has agreed to not only introduce it but also to ensure it is in place for the start of the men’s Ashes series that marks the beginning of the World Test Championship.

“The first opportunity to apply this for the Australian women’s Team will be in the ICC International Women’s Championship series against the West Indies in September.

"The measure places player welfare front and centre and anything that does that has to be applauded."awd

 

[bantu]

Concussion substitutes

Few Observations:
1. Why only concussion substitute and a like for like “injury” substitute ?
2. Four of the five substitutes are due to Indian pace bowlers !!

 

[bantu]

 

[jnaveen1980]

This is a daft rule. There are so many holes in it. Let us say someone who can bowl a bit makes 150 and gets hit on the head. He gets bowler as a substitute. Although today they say they won't allow Mehdi can't to bowl, still this will continue to be questionable rule.

 

[HitWicket]

This is a daft rule. There are so many holes in it. Let us say someone who can bowl a bit makes 150 and gets hit on the head. He gets bowler as a substitute. Although today they say they won't allow Mehdi can't to bowl, still this will continue to be questionable rule.

Someone who can bowl a little wouldn't be allowed an out and out bowler as a replacement.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Someone who can bowl a little wouldn't be allowed an out and out bowler as a replacement.

what about all rounder. Let us say Kuldeep gets hit and they replace him with Jadeja? You cannot say he won't be allowed to bat.

 

[HitWicket]

what about all rounder. Let us say Kuldeep gets hit and they replace him with Jadeja? You cannot say he won't be allowed to bat.

If Kuldeep was getting picked ahead of Jadeja then there's clearly been a belief that he's the better bowler so the team would be sacrificing bowling ability.

 

[jnaveen1980]

If Kuldeep was getting picked ahead of Jadeja then there's clearly been a belief that he's the better bowler so the team would be sacrificing bowling ability.

It comes down to when you get hit or how well Kuldeep bowl. This can easily be used to your advantage.

 

[JaDed]

Two happened in today’s game?

 

[WengerOut]

It comes down to when you get hit or how well Kuldeep bowl. This can easily be used to your advantage.

Are you implying players could act being concussed?

 

[Indiafan]

If Kuldeep was getting picked ahead of Jadeja then there's clearly been a belief that he's the better bowler so the team would be sacrificing bowling ability.

The doctor has to agree it's a concussion and the match referee has to agree which player will be a replacement

 

[bantu]

Why not a like for like substitute for other injuries like fractured bones,torn muscle,etc ??

 

[dildilpak]

One can debate about the like-for-like substitution, but the concussion rule is valid - concussion usually has delayed on-set & has far serious consequences than mere physical injury. ICC introduced this rule bcoz they didnt want team management/players to downplay concussion risks where symptoms are not immediately visible after getting hit.

 

[Indiafan]

Each of the indian fast bowlers except ishant, have all forced batsmen to go off for concussion. Umesh, bumrah and shami twice

 

[leatherface58]

The doctor has to agree it's a concussion and the match referee has to agree which player will be a replacement

I am sure these questions are because people still think concussions = headaches and have absolutely zero clue about post-concussion syndrome, CTE, and the like.

 

[aloo paratha]

I am sure these questions are because people still think concussions = headaches and have absolutely zero clue about post-concussion syndrome, CTE, and the like.

Also people who haven't read the law properly think they're fit to debate it, 2nd reply in this thread is an example of that.

 

[MenInG]

Ever since the provision of concussion substitution was introduced in Test cricket earlier this year, there have been five such changes effected by teams – with Indian pace bowlers unfortunately being responsible for four of the five.

The fourth and fifth such substitutions were done by Bangladesh in their ongoing match against India in Kolkata – the first time two concussion substitutes have been brought on. Liton Das and Mohammad Nayeem, both hit on the helmet by Mohammed Shami bouncers, were replaced by Mehidy Hasan and Taijul Islam.

In the series against South Africa as well, Dean Elgar copped a blow off Umesh Yadav’s bowling in Ranchi, forcing the Proteas to replace him with Theunis de Bruyn.

In the series before that, in the West Indies, a Jasprit Bumrah snorter was responsible for a concussion substitution – Darren Bravo had to replaced by Jermaine Blackwood in Kingston.

There has been one such forced change in matches not involving India – which was possibly the most successful substitution. After Steve Smith was hit on the helmet in the Ashes Test at Lord’s, Marnus Labuschagne came on in his place and lived up to the name he replaced. Labuschagne’s international career has rocketed since then.

There has been some controversy generated over the concussion substitution as well, with Indian commentators Sunil Gavaskar and Murali Kartik having suggested during the Bangladesh match that teams are now misusing the provision.

Gavaskar said batsmen should not play cricket if they cannot deal with the short ball – something he himself did without much protection for years in his playing days. Kartik said batsmen are now going off at the first sign of trouble.

They were both criticized heavily by fans on social media, with some saying that such a take is insensitive in the aftermath of the tragic death of Philip Hughes after being hit on the head in 2014.

https://indianexpress.com/article/s...ussion-substitutions-in-test-cricket-6133521/

 

[Boiz Played Well]

Concussed Finch subbed out of Shield clash

Australia's limited-overs captain Aaron Finch has been substituted out of Victoria's Marsh Sheffield Shield clash with New South Wales after being struck in the helmet and suffering delayed concussion at the MCG on Saturday.

Finch was fielding at short leg when tail-ender Steve O'Keefe flicked a James Pattinson delivery straight into his helmet during the second day's opening session.

While Finch continued fielding in close after being assessed by doctor Trevor James, Cricket Victoria say he experienced delayed concussion symptoms during the lunch break.

Travis Dean, who Victoria have replaced Finch with in their XI, was batting for his Premier Cricket side Footscray at Windy Hill in Melbourne's north-west when he was told he needed to retire his innings and drive to the MCG.

The concussion substitute rule has been in place in the Sheffield Shield since the 2017-18 season and was introduced into international cricket earlier this year, with Marnus Labuschagne becoming Test cricket's first replacement player when Steve Smith was concussed during the Ashes.

Half-centuries to Sean Abbott and Peter Nevill helped the Blues to a first-innings total of 294 shortly before lunch on day two.

The sides returned for one Trent Copeland over before lunch following the innings break, with Marcus Harris (0no) and Nic Maddinson (1no) resuming at 0-1 in Saturday's second session.

Having been sent in by Victorian skipper Peter Handscomb on Friday, NSW had slumped to 5-114 on day one, but Abbott and Nevill combined to guide their side to 6-223 at stumps.

Their seventh-wicket partnership of 93 runs ended when Test quick James Pattinson removed Abbott for 54, with Nevill departing for 50 in the next over.

On a recast MCG wicket that is showing more signs of life than it has in recent times, Peter Siddle and Pattinson were the pick of the bowlers in NSW's first dig.

Siddle finished with figures of 3-52 from 26 overs, including seven maidens, and Pattinson 3-62 from 28 (six maidens).

The Vics are attempting to climb off the bottom of the Sheffield Shield table with a first win of the season, while the top-of-the-table Blues are aiming to make it five wins from five games.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/aar...wo-sheffield-shield-highlights-mcg/2019-11-30

 

[pillionrider]

Anything health-related can be polarizing. The Phil Hughes tragedy has unfortunately taken out one aspect of cricket. The concussion test after a batsman is hit on the helmet just gives him that little bit of breathing time to recover from the mental shock. Chatting to the med professional also helps reduce the spurt of fear he'd have surely felt. The advantage of having an express bowler in your side is effectively reduced.

Any views?

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan take concussion substitute for Shadab Khan

Chennai, 27 October 2023:

Pakistan have taken a concussion substitute for Shadab Khan in the ongoing match against South Africa. Usama Mir will replace Shadab.

Shadab hit his head while fielding. He briefly took the field, but after a thorough assessment, the Pakistan team medical panel decided to replace him.

The substitute request was approved by the match referee.