Daniel Hughes first cricketer to be replaced under CA's new concussion rule

New South Wales opener Daniel Hughes was hit by a bouncer from Victoria pacer Peter Siddle. It was a pretty similar blow to what former Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes suffered which eventually cost him his life. Cricket Australia has introduced new rules for substitution and Hughes became the first cricketer to be substituted under the new concussion rule.

Nick Larkin then replaced Hughes in the One-Day Cup elimination final match against Victoria on Friday after the latter was struck on the helmet by a bouncer from Siddle. It was Doctor John Orchard who took care of the opener. He is the same doctor who treated former NSW player Phillip Hughes when he suffered what turned out to be a fatal blow during a 2014 Sheffield Shield match.

Orchard after examination mentioned that Hughes was not fit to resume the innings thereafter and that also puts him almost out of prospect for the final match on Sunday. His replacement Larkin didn’t face a single ball while New South Wales took the rain-affected match by a margin of 31 runs.

After working out the options and considering such occurrences on the cricket field Cricket Australia this season introduced a rule in the Big Bash Twenty20 and one-day competitions which gives the team an option to replace a player who has is unfit to take part in the game any further for medical examination if they are hit on the head.

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New South Wales’ Nic Maddinson who was also struck on his head during the match, called this rule ‘a great move.’