James Anderson calls injury replacement trials ‘daft’ and ‘absurd’

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) may decide to change the rules on substitutions after the first block of the County Championship is over. Each team has two more games before the competition breaks for the T20 Blast.

During these two rounds of matches, the match referees will speak to the directors of cricket in the 18 counties to get feedback on the trial. The ECB wrote to the counties this week to ensure they would be consulted.

The governing body emphasized that the new regulations are a trial, and will learn each time the rules are implemented. The protocol for selecting replacement players is not new – there were cases of covid outbreaks and substitutions earlier this season.

The International Cricket Council has allowed trials for injury replacements in domestic cricket, with India and Australia implementing their own versions.

While Anderson admitted his side would have been short of fit players against both Gloucestershire and Durham, had no substitutions been allowed, he said he was “leaning in” to replace the injury.

The 43-year-old is the most successful seam bowler in Test history with 704 wickets.

Anderson suggested that he would never be allowed to come into the game as an injury replacement, as he would always be more experienced than the player he would replace.

“It means I have to play every game,” Anderson said.

“There’s no point in me resting, because I can’t come into a game then – I can never be substituted. If I’m injured, I’m injured. If I try to play every game I’m more likely to get injured.

“I can be replaced, because no one in our squad has the same experience, but I could never replace anyone else.”