Australian pacer Joe Mennie becomes first player to be substituted during County match

The new ECB rule allows teams to name a like-for-like replacement only after a proper medical examination and approval from the CLO.

Australian pacer Joe Mennie became the first-ever cricketer to be replaced during an ongoing English County Cricket match.

The incident happened on June 21 at the New Road cricket ground in Worcester. While representing Lancashire, Mennie was hit by one of the shots played by Worcestershire opener Martin Guptill. The ball went on directly to hit Mennie on the head after which he fell on the ground and remained motionless for some time.

Soon he received the medical attention after which he returned to the dressing room on his own. However, the Lancashire team management decided not to send the injured speedster back on the ground for the rest of the game.

Following the new concussion substitute rule introduced by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Mennie was replaced by all-rounder Danny Lamb.

The new rule allows teams to name a like-for-like replacement. But to practice it, medical examination and approval of the CLO is mandatory. Once approved by the CLO, the replced player could bowl and bat for the team in rest of the game.

After becoming first player to join his team in the middle of a game as a replacement, Lamb scored an unbeaten 19 runs off 52 balls in the second innings. He also bowled 5 overs and leaked 45 runs.

Speaking on the health conditions of Mennie, Lancashire’s assistant coach, Mark Chilton stated that ball had hit him in the head with enough impact that it has left an impression of the seam.

“Obviously that caused immediate concern for everybody and although he was conscious at all times he was pretty shaken and has a sore head.”

Speaking of replacing Mennies with Danny Lamb, Chilton said, “Accordingly, we expressed our concern to Richard Ellison, the CLO, and told him that we were not confident of Joe’s fitness to complete the game and he agreed to the use of a substitute.”

Despite practicing the new rule for the first time in the English County circuit, Lancashire lost the game by 202 runs.