The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 reportedly went down as one of the greatest bilateral Test series in England. It will not only be remembered for the batting prowess and the valour of the bowlers, but
it has also been etched as a series where players from both the sides showed remarkable resilience even in defiance of pain. Rishabh Pant’s fifty in the fourth Test despite having a fractured toe and Chris Woakes coming out to the crease with an arm in a sling, gave an insight into the never-give-up attitude of the players. However, these appearances have also given way to a separate debate in Test cricket.
In a reportedly contentious debate in the cricketing world, a question is looming: should Test cricket allow full injury substitutes? Former England fast bowler Steve Harmison has added his voice to the discussion, advocating for an open-minded approach to the issue after witnessing injuries to players like India’s Rishabh Pant and England’s Chris Woakes during the series. While speaking about this on talkSPORT Cricket, Harmison said, “Can we make the game better, fairer, and an even playing field? In Woakes’s and Pant’s case, there was obvious injury. It was so bad that you are running the risk of asking a player to put their career on the line.”
ICC currently allows for full substitutes only for concussions
While talking further, Harmison highlighted the potential long-term consequences, adding, “If Pant gets another one on that foot, the rehab process to come back from that takes not only a lot longer, but that’ll have even more ramification. Same with Chris. That could have gone horribly wrong. It’s such a grey area. I think I am all for the conversation.” The International Cricket Council (ICC) currently permits full substitutes only for concussions, a rule introduced in 2019 after Australia’s Steve Smith was replaced by Marnus Labuschagne following a blow from Jofra Archer. This precedent has been widely accepted, with concussion substitutes allowed to bat and bowl, ensuring teams remain at full strength. However, for other injuries, substitutes are restricted to fielding only, with no permission to bat or bowl, leaving teams effectively a player short.
Harmison’s call for dialogue aligns with reported broader sentiments in the cricketing community including the former England bowler Stuart Broad who acknowledged the merits of both sides. “It would certainly improve the standard and quality of cricket if you could keep it at 11-v-11,” Broad said. Additionally, Steve Harmison also praised Mohammed Siraj for relentlessly bowling 185.3 overs across five tests. “It’s one thing to have the skills and then to put them in the right area, and when you’ve been going like you’ve been, over 180 overs, you can make mistakes. Fortunately for India, he didn’t,” Harmison said.
