Speaking at the toss ahead of the fifth T20I, Jos Buttler took a veiled jab at India’s controversial concussion substitution in the previous game.
There was significant debate over India’s use of the like-for-like rule in their series sealing victory, with Shivam Dube, a batting all-rounder, replaced after India’s innings by Harshit Rana, a specialist fast bowler. Rana went on to take three wickets as the hosts wrapped up a 15-run win. The switch was approved by ICC match referee Javagal Srinath, with the former India fast bowler only required to consider the role Dube would have played in the remainder of the game and whether Rana’s inclusion would give India “excessive advantage”.
Explained: The concussion sub rule loophole that allowed Rana to replace Dube
Buttler voiced his disagreement with the decision after play, with Kevin Pietersen among those stringent in their criticism of the ploy. "It is not a like-for-like replacement. We don't agree with that. Either Shivam Dube has put on about 25mph with the ball or Harshit has really improved his batting,” Buttler quipped at the post-match press conference. “It's part of the game and we really should have gone on to win the match, but we disagree with the decision.
Before the fifth game, Buttler had another barb ready to go. In naming his XI, he specified four players as England’s “impact subs”, a reference to a rule in the Indian Premier League which allows a team to make one mid-match change to their side. In international cricket, this option is only open in the case of concussion or a positive Covid-19 test.
Dube recovered from any symptoms quickly enough to retain his place for the fifth T20I, less than 48 hours after he had been subbed out.
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