ICC Rules on Substitute Fielder: India Left with 10 Players in 3rd Test as R Ashwin Withdraws

On Friday, Ravichandran Ashwin pulled out of the 3rd Test against England due to a family medical emergency, leaving India with one less bowler in Rajkot.

The post ICC Rules on Substitute Fielder: India Left with 10 Players in 3rd Test as R Ashwin Withdraws appeared first on Cricket Country.

IND VS ENG: Shortly after making history in Test cricket, veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was compelled to depart from Team India’s Test squad for the remaining matches against England on Friday. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah confirmed Ashwin’s departure from the Indian camp, stating that the senior all-rounder has withdrawn from the Test squad with immediate effect due to a family medical emergency.

Although the BCCI declined to disclose the specific reason for Ashwin’s withdrawal, the cricket board expressed its sincere support to the accomplished cricketer and his family during this challenging period. It is anticipated that Ashwin will also be unavailable for the 4th and 5th Tests of the England series. Ashwin, who achieved the milestone of 500 Test wickets on Day 2 of the Rajkot match, became the second Indian bowler after the legendary Anil Kumble to accomplish this feat.

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In the absence of Ashwin for the Rajkot Test, India will be compelled to compete with only 10 players and four specialist bowlers. According to the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which oversees the Laws of the game, umpires may permit a substitute fielder if they are convinced that a player has sustained an injury or fallen ill during the match. As outlined in MCC’s rule No. 24.1.1.2, a team can employ a substitute fielder for a valid reason. However, a substitute is prohibited from bowling or acting as a captain, although they may keep wickets with the approval of the umpires. Given that Ashwin’s absence is not due to injury or illness during the match, India will only be permitted to field a substitute with the consent of opposing captain Ben Stokes.

No, India cannot replace Ashwin with another player in the XI who can both bat and bowl. According to the playing conditions, a complete replacement for a player is only permitted when the player is ruled out of the match due to a concussion injury sustained on the field. Even if Ashwin had been ruled out due to any other injury, India would not have been allowed to select a replacement. Only concussion substitutes are permitted to bat and bowl.

However, if India formally requests England and Stokes agrees, there is a slight possibility of Ashwin being replaced with either Washington Sundar or Axar Patel, both of whom would be capable of bowling and batting in the second innings.

Ashwin achieved a significant milestone by taking the wicket of England opener Zak Crawley on Day 2 of the 3rd Test at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium. With this wicket, he became only the third off-spinner in cricket history to reach 500 Test wickets. Ashwin now stands as the second-highest wicket-taker for Team India, trailing only the legendary Anil Kumble, who retired with 619 Test scalps.

Notably, Ashwin became the second-fastest player to achieve the 500-wicket milestone, following Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan. He reached this landmark in 25,714 balls, with only Australia’s Glenn McGrath achieving it faster. McGrath accomplished the feat in 25,528 balls. Additionally, Ashwin, at 37 years old, is also the second-oldest player to join the 500 club in Test cricket.

In the event of Ashwin being unavailable for the 4th Test, India has the option to include all-rounder Washington Sundar in the playing XI as a direct replacement. Alternatively, spin-bowling choices outside the Test squad include Jayant Yadav, Jalaj Saxena, and Pulkit Narang. India is scheduled to face England in Ranchi (Feb 25-29) and Dharamsala (March 7-11) for the final two Tests of the five-match series.

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