The head of the world cricket players union is "supremely confident" Cricket Australia's call for the introduction of "concussion substitutes" in matches will be approved by the Int'l Cricket Council, according to Andrew Wu of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. CA, which "released the Curtain review into the death of Phillip Hughes on Wednesday, has submitted a paper to the ICC outlining its case for replacements to be allowed in first-class matches without the loss of first-class status." The issue will be discussed "at a meeting of the ICC's cricket committee" on May 31 and June 1 at Lord's. It is believed CA "has the support of several other countries on the initiative, which, if introduced, would be a radical change to the game but one in line with progressive attitudes towards concussion in world sport." It could also "pave the way for replacement players in international cricket." The ICC is "considering its approach to concussion but there are concerns as to whether all member nations have the resources to implement policies as robust as Australia and England's." Federation of Int'l Cricketers' Association CEO Tony Irish "cannot see why the ICC would reject concussion substitutes." He said, "It requires change to ICC classification of first-class cricket but I can't see any reason behind it being knocked back. It makes sense." CA CEO James Sutherland said that CA was "looking to strike a balance between player safety and maintaining the traditions of the game." He said, "You can make the game of cricket a lot safer by playing with a tennis ball, but that's not how Test cricket has been played and it would obviously be a very different game" (SMH, 5/11).
