Trial or error? Lancashire bear brunt as county game adjusts to new substitute rules | Ali Martin

Lancashire went on to lose at Chester-le-street in part because no frontline spinner meant little relief for their seamers and a lack of threat on a day four surface that had already seen Callum Parkinson bowl 39 overs for the hosts. Bailey – selected this time – even switched from seam-up to off-breaks for a spell.

However the playing regulations make no mention of the incoming player’s ability, age, experience or reputation, just “like for like (or sufficiently close).” It continues: “Specifically, the type of player should match the role of the affected player”.

From the outside it looks like the match referees are now making subjective judgements, weighing the up-and-comer against the old pro and, by extension, critiquing selection. Apparently part of the Bailey decision from match referee Peter Such was that he had bowled better than Singh Dale the week before.

Perhaps they are so mindful of the system being gamed that they are second guessing the team’s intentions. Although you kind of understand it, because it does feel ripe for manipulation. Hampshire head coach, Russell Domingo, even joked he could slip an underperforming player laxatives to get them ruled out with illness.

The trial is one of a number encouraged by the International Cricket Council and things are more vague in England than elsewhere. India only permitted replacements for external injuries in their Ranji Trophy trial – ie fractures or deep cuts – while Australia allowed soft-tissue injuries but not illness.

Even then, the Sheffield Shield only allowed only one change per side – the opposition also got the option to make a tactical sub of their own – and it had to be made in the first two days. This tightened system resulted in seven replacements across 31 games. In England there have been 16 for injury or illness (plus another for concussion) across the 29 fixtures to date.

South Australia prepare to field during day four of the Sheffield Shield match against Victoria in Melbourne. Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

A more obvious snag in England is the eight-day stand-down rule, compared to 12 in Australia. Designed to serve as a deterrent, it is merely days, not playing days, and so can be served during a week with no fixture. It may be a coincidence, but six replacements in the second round – before half of the counties went on a break – represented a three-fold increase on week one.

Now the England and Wales Cricket Board has stressed that this is very much a trial and done in consultation with the counties. Grey areas and shortcomings were expected – desired, almost, because little would be learned otherwise. Mid-season tweaks are theoretically possible. Whether they will be is another matter.

But aside from replacements for significant life events – yet to be triggered but a sound addition when remembering the case of Derbyshire’s Blair Tickner – what final system emerges from the trials should not be the only question here.

Domestic cricket may yet feel the need for replacements. But before more are allowed in Test cricket beyond those for concussion, the sport should seriously be asking itself whether it truly wants injuries to be part of it.

Rishabh Pant is helped off the field a being struck by a ball on the foot at Old Trafford last year. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

Well-meaning they might be, but their introduction would significantly alter the fabric of what Test cricket in part is: 11 versus 11 and a feat of collective endurance – a test of fitness, hardiness and courage, not simply temperament and technique.

It is less about the box office moments such as Chris Woakes or Rishabh Pant walking to bat in significant pain – dramatic though they were – and more about the broader question of conditioning and potential abuse. Teams may be more inclined to gamble on a player’s fitness going into a match, or simply gin up a reason for fresh legs midway. Scan any fast bowler and you will find something.

England took a punt on Anderson at the start of the 2019 Ashes and it backfired to little sympathy. But he played a remarkable 188 Tests and has also just peeled off four straight county games and is the leading wicket-taker in the country – still setting the standard for physical conditioning at the ripe old age of 43.

Grumpy though he may be as the Lancashire captain denied in recent weeks, he can at least crack a smile that 704 Test wickets means, contrary to predictions after retiring from England, any bowler can now replace him.