Mickey Arthur Wants ICC To Consider Injury Substitutions

While the concussion-related substitute already remain in place, Sri Lanka head coach Mickey Arthur also wants injury-related ones to be introduced. Mickey Arthur’s comments have come on the back of Sri Lanka players’ injury in their ongoing Test match against South Africa in Centurion. The South African revealed that he would open up the subject for discussion after the Test.

Sri Lanka has already lost the services of their three bowlers, namely Kasun Rajitha, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Lahiru Kumara. Along with that, Dhananjaya de Silva remains in doubt for the series too as he retired hurt while batting following a torn thigh. At the end of day three, the tourists found themselves trailing by 160 runs after Faf Du Plessis hit 199.

Mickey Arthur revealed that being part of the ICC Cricket Committee, he would be having discussions after the Test match. The former Pakistan coach referred to India losing Umesh Yadav in the second Test against Australia and highlighted that too much workload alongside the COVID and quarantine process; teams could lose fast bowlers often.

“I do sit on the ICC Cricket Committee and I will be having a chat at the end of this Test match. I saw India also lost one of the quicks today and I suspect that more teams will lose quicks as the workload will just be too much with the COVID around and the quarantine process,” Arthur said as quoted by Times of India.

If the world was normal, we would not be in this situation: Mickey Arthur

Mickey Arthur further said that if the circumstances around the world were normal, they could have had the usual conditioning process. However, with the situation abnormal currently, this topic would be up for discussion by the ICC. Arthur lamented that soon they might only have six players to finish a Test, which would be unfavourable for their team, viewers, and the opposition.

“If the world was normal, we would not be in this situation, the conditioning would be perfect. With it being an abnormal world at the moment, I’m pretty sure it will come up for discussion at ICC level. We might only have six players to finish a Test match. That’s not good enough for anybody – our team, the TV audience, and the opposition,” he added.

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