Stop abusing concussion substitute rule, warns Mark Taylor

Former Australian captain Mark Taylor has cautioned players, experts to stop abusing concussion substitute rule, saying that it is for the protection of players and need to be used fairly and responsibly. The experts gave their mixed opinions after skipper  Kohli decided to play Chahal in place of Jadeja in recently concluded 1st T20 where the latter faced a concussion injury while he was batting in 19th over of India’s innings. Chahal went on to play an instrumental role in India’s victory where he clinched 3 wickets for 25 runs.

Now that is making an entrance!

Chahal entered the game at the halfway point, and walked away with the Player of the Match award #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/1dzn7eA3SK

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 5, 2020

“The concussion rules are there to protect players,” Taylor, a former member of the ICC Cricket Committee, was quoted as saying by Sydney Morning Herald.

“If they are abused there’s a chance it will go like the runner’s rule. The reason the runners were outlawed was that it started to be abused. It’s up to the players to make sure they use the concussion sub fairly and responsibly.

“I’m not suggesting that didn’t happen last night.”

We can clearly observe that Australian Coach Langer was having an animated conversation with match referee David Boon but it’s not clear yet that whether that discussion was about Chahal or something else. Australian all-rounder Moises Henriques said in a post match conference that it should be like to like replacement as Jadeja is an allrounder but Chahal is a bowler ideally an allrounder should have replaced Jadeja not Chahal.

However, Jadeja didn’t call physio immediately after he was struck on his helmet by the delivery bowled by Mitchell Starc and scored 2 more boundaries in his quick-fire 44 runs from 23 balls, added another element in his concussion finding.

“I’ve said for years I’d like to see players and coaches take more responsibility in running the game. The laws are there to protect them and make the game better for the player. Just make sure they’re used correctly, that’s all I would say,” Taylor said.

India captain Virat Kohli said Ravindra Jadeja was feeling dizzy after he was subbed out of the first #AUSvIND T20 in what proved a decisive moment in Canberra https://t.co/rZPlYcjqWR

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 4, 2020

India will be looking to seal the series especially after suffering an ODI defeat against Australia. As Jadeja has been ruled out for the remaining T20 matches it will not be easy for India to clinch victory against Australia now as Jadeja was contributing heavily at the backhand of India’s innings and losing him will be a big blow for Men in Blue.